6.1 Complexify the social fabric

6.11. Foster a mix of uses in each neighbourhood
An badly thought-out zonning model has lead to a large number of areas in our cities functioning more like separate urban developments than as one, which contributes to the functional and social inefficiency of our country. In extreme cases, this tendency has contributed to most of the metropolitan areas of our cities being modelled on a tree-like network rather than semi-lattice. Planning should consider all needs (in each neighbourhood) that citizens may have, for example places for rest, work, recreation and shopping, and should satisfy any additional needs that might result from any problems they may encounter in their daily life. Any needs arising from activities which do not form a necessary part of daily life should also be addressed, to encourage people from other areas of the city so that the neighbourhood does not become an isolated enclave shut off from the rest of the city.

6.12. Improve the supply of and access to services and facilities in each neighbourhood
The need to provide citizens with nearby services, facilities and resources in order to avoid their having to travel (often using private transport) means that the design and layout of amenities is one of the most important parts of the physical aspect of urban planning. In general, and in most cases, we could say that there should be a tendency towards smaller local facilities and services, managed by the citizens themselves and evenly distributed around the urban fabric.

6.13. Incentivise economic exchange with the rural areas
The fragmenting of cities has meant that urban-fringe agriculture, which was an important part of the initial stages of urban development has all but disappeared. Some cities who are aware of the importance of maintaining urban-fringe agriculture and its produce are trying to bring it back. Not only to shorten the distance food has to travel between the farmer and the consumer, but also for public health and psychological reasons. This need has already been mentioned above, but this criterion covers the broader areas not only of the urban fringe but also the whole rural area surrounding the city. Direct marketing and exchange systems should be able to be managed through a strategic town plan so that both citizen and farmer can benefit from the proposal.

6.14. Promote a minimum percentage of proximity activities
This criterion is closely related to that on improving the supply of and access to services and facilities in each neighbourhood. In this case, we would look to setting a minimum percentage for this type of activity. The percentage should be absolutely minimal as the need to meet the necessary requirements through a process of citizen participation has already been mentioned.

6.15. Incentivise activities that favour a diversity of uses
This is a general section which includes anything that might be relevant to the fostering of a range of uses for each neighbourhood and city. These two elements must be treated separately so as not to confuse those activities specific to each neighbourhood with those pertaining to the city as a whole. In many cases this confusion, or the proliferation of centres of varying levels, reduce the vitality of city life which needs a minimum number of citizens in order to work properly.

Discussion