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Historic Preservation Home > Syllabi > 200 Level Courses > HISP 209-01 Planning History and Practice

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
PLANNING HISTORY & PRACTICE
HISP 209-01

M. Megan McDonald
T/R 9:30 – 10:45am
Combs Hall #112 

Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theories, methods and practical applications involved in the field of planning, particularly at the state and local levels. The first section of the course will be devoted to a study of the history of planning in the United States in order to provide the proper context for the remainder of the course. The second section emphasizes modern planning concepts, tools and procedure. The third section of the course focuses on urban design and the integration of design concepts, historic preservation and planning. Students will also gain practical experience in planning through video exercises and attendance at a local planning meeting.

Course Objectives

  1. Foster a basic understanding of land use planning in the U.S.
  2. Create awareness of current social, political, and economic issues surrounding land and land use in the U.S.
  3. Develop the basis for an understanding of the relationship between land use regulations and historic preservation.
  4. Encourage interest in the diverse realm of issues addressed by land use planning.

Required Texts
John Levy, Contemporary Urban Planning, 7th ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall (2005). The 6th or 7th edition is acceptable for this course. A copy will be placed on 2-hour reserve at Simpson Library for students’ use.

All other materials will be made available online or will be distributed in class.

Requirements

  1. Honor Code: All graded work is bound by the provisions of the Honor Code and must be pledged, signed, and dated.
  1. Preparation & Participation: Keeping up with readings and assignments, participating in class, and interacting with your classmates/teammates in a respectful manner will enrich the learning experience for all of us. As the semester progresses, more of the class will center on discussion. A portion of each student’s grade will be based upon the level of participation.
  1. Attendance: Class sessions are crucial for conveying information not provided in readings. Your attendance is vital for your learning as well as for lively class discussion.
  1. Graded Coursework: No passing grade can be achieved in this course without completion of all graded assignments, which are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise specified by the instructor. Late submissions will be marked down ten percent per day.
    • Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors will reduce the overall grade on written assignments, so please proofread carefully and do not rely solely on computer spelling and grammar checkers! I encourage you to take advantage of the Writing Center’s assistance.
    • The planning meeting report assignment requires attendance at one meeting of the City of Fredericksburg Planning Commission. Students should attend the meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall (715 Princess Anne Street). If a student has a legitimate conflict (work or another course) that prevents attendance at this meeting, please see the instructor as soon as possible for approval to attend an alternative meeting.
  1. Web Discussion
    • Depending on course size, students will be assigned in groups of two or three.  Each group is collectively responsible for initiating one “topic of discussion” for an assigned week during the semester; each student will be individually responsible for drafting one discussion question based on the topic (his or her name should be placed in parentheses next to the question).  Each group will post its discussion topic by Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. during the week assigned and submit a written copy of the discussion topic to the instructor at the beginning of class that day.
    • Topic ideas should come from recent news coverage, i.e. newspaper, magazine or online publication.  The topics should involve a current land-use planning issue or dispute.  Each Blackboard topic will contain a brief description/introduction of the planning topic as well as questions geared to stimulate discussion.  Topics should not be repetitive and should be selected based on originality, applicability to course materials and potential to promote discussion.
    • Every student must participate in the online discussion of current planning topics by posting a response message to three (3) separate weekly topics during the course of the semester (excluding the week they posted a discussion topic).  Topics should be selected based on student interest and ability to draft an insightful response.  Students electing to respond to a topic must post a message no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Sunday following the Tuesday the topic was posted.  Responses will be graded on originality and substantive content (reflection, comparison, analysis, etc.).  Each student will receive a cumulative web discussion grade (topic and responses) at the end of the semester.   

Grade Distribution
The course requirements will be graded on a point system with 500 total possible points.

Graded Course Requirements

Due Date

Percentage

Participation

N/A

10%

Web Discussion

N/A

10%

Test I

2/7

20%

Test II

2/28

20%

Planning Meeting Report

3/20

20%

Final

5/1

20%

Total

100%

Grading Scale

A

4.00

94-100%

A-

3.70

90-93%

B+

3.30

87-89%

B

3.00

83-86%

B-

2.70

80-82%

C+

2.30

77-79%

C

2.00

73-76%

C-

1.70

70-72%

D+

1.30

67-69%

D

1.00

60-66%

F

0.00

<60%

A mid-semester report of unsatisfactory (U) will be reported if a student has a C- or below in the course at the time reports are submitted.

Instructor Information
M. Megan McDonald
Combs – Office #122
(540) 654-1371
mmcdonal@umw.edu

Office Hours:
Mondays:         11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Tuesdays:         2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesdays:   11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursdays:        2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Also by appointment.

Office of Disability Services
The Office of Disability Services has been designated by the University as the primary office to guide, counsel, and assist students with disabilities. If you receive services through that office and require accommodations for this class, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Please bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise.

If you have not made contact with the Office of Disability Services and have accommodation needs, (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.), I will be happy to refer you. The office will require appropriate documentation, and may be contacted at (540) 654-1266.

CLASS SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS

I. INTRODUCTION TO PLANNING AND THE HISTORY OF Planning

Week 1
1/15 T:    Overview of course syllabus and requirements;
Introduction to planning – part i

1/17 R:Introduction to Planning – part II;
               Planning in antiquity
Reading:
John Levy, Contemporary Urban Planning, Chapter 1.

Week 2
1/22 T:    video: Understanding Cities       

1/24 R:    nature and theory of planning
Reading:
               Levy, Chapter 19              

Week 3
1/29 T:    early planning efforts in the united states;
               The city beautiful movement
Reading:
               Levy, Chapters 2 and 3

1/31 R:    the plan of chicago;
               The city efficient movement

Week 4
2/5 T:      Garden City Movement;
               planning after wwii
Reading:
                        Levy, Chapter 4

2/7 R:      TEST I

Week 5
2/12 T:    CHALLENGES IN THE 20th AND 21st CENTURIES
Reading:
                        TBA

2/14 R:    evolution of zoning;
               LEGAL BASIS OF PLANNING – PART I
                        Reading:
                        Levy, Chapter5

Week 6
2/19 T:    LEGAL BASIS OF PLANNING – PART II
Reading:
                        TBA

2/21 R:    KEY PLAYERS IN PLANNING
                        Reading:
                        Levy, Chapter6

Week 7
2/26 T:    MODERN ZONING TECHNIQUES;
               OTHER LAND USE CONTROLS
                        Reading:
                        Levy, Chapter9

2/28 R:    TEST II

Week 8
3/4 T:      NO CLASS – Spring Break

3/6 R:      NO CLASS – Spring Break

Week 9

3/11 T:    VIDEO: Jane Jacobs: Urban Wisdom
               *Note: this event is open to visitors in honor of Women’s History  Month. Seating is                 limited, so please make sure you arrive on time so that visitors may use the remaining seats.

***Attend Fredericksburg Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, 3/12 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 715 Princess Anne Street***

3/13 R:    NO CLASS – WORK ON REPORT

Week 10
3/18 T:    COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
                        Reading:
                        Levy, Chapter8

3/20 R:    COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT;
               ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
               Planning Meeting Report Due
Reading:
                        Levy, Chapters 11 and 13              

Week 11

3/25 T:    GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND SMART GROWTH
                        Reading:
Levy, Chapter14

3/27 R:    ENVIRONMENT;
               TRANSPORTATION
                        Reading:
                        Levy, Chapters12 and 15

Week 12
4/1 T:      SOCIAL ISSUES
                        Reading:
                        Levy, Chapter 7

4/3 R:      GUEST SPEAKER (tentative)

Week 13
4/8 T:      URBAN DESIGN – Part I
                        Reading:
                        Levy, Chapter 10

4/10 R:  URBAN DESIGN – Part II

Week 14
4/15 T:    VIDEO – Design Review: From Historic Preservation to Site Plans

4/17 R:    workshop – Design Review: From Historic Preservation to Site Plans            

Week 15

4/22 T:    WHERE DOES PLANNING GO FROM HERE?

4/24 R:    REVIEW

Final Exam:  Thursday, May 1 8:30 – 11:00 a.m.