URBAN SPRAWL vs COMPACT CITIES : The Need For Urban Growth Limit

The 10^th Malaysian Plan mentions about the challenges to enhance the livability of cities, and of creating vibrant, compact and people oriented cities.  These traits of what Malaysian cities should be are echoed in the National Urbanization Plan (NUP) which has been in existence since 2006.

Urban growth in Malaysia is still shaped mostly along motorway corridors without much of a break in between urban areas as for instance between Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam.  Such development simply known as urban sprawl has come under increased criticism in recent years because of its negative environmental, social and economic effects, as well as loss of image and identity peculiar to an area.  The drawbacks of sprawl include:

i.                    Loss Of Productive Or Environmentally Significant Land;

ii.                  Widespread Traffic Congestion As Incidence Of Commuting Is High;

iii.                Causing Air Pollution From Automobile Emissions Due To Heavy Reliance On Private Cars; and

iv.                 Spiraling Infrastructure Costs In Providing For Lower Density Development.

Throughout the developed countries, there has long been a shift towards advocating a more compact style of urban development, as opposed to the “unsuitable urban sprawl”.  In a nutshell, a compact city concept is designed to make more efficient use of existing land resources and infrastructure, as well as reducing automobile usage.  Namely, prerequisites of a compact city model include:

i.                    Imposing Urban Growth Limits

ii.                  Focusing On Higher Density Development;

iii.                Encouraging Mixed Use Development;

iv.                 Reliance On Public Transportation; and

v.                   Developing On Infill And Brownfield Sites.

The call for compact city model has been reaffirm as a part solution to tackle the issue of global warming.  A city which is more compact reduces green house gas emissions thus lessening the impacts of global warming.  The Government, during the United Nation Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, 2009 has pledged to reduce by 40%, carbon dioxide emissions by 2020.  This and the Government intense efforts on public transportation is a huge progress towards realizing compact and people oriented cities.  In providing for the MRT services across Sg Buloh right up to Kajang in the Greater Kuala Lumpur, a higher density and mixed use development is set to take place along its corridors and transit nodes, partly to create enough ridership as to make the service viable in the long run.  Simultaneously, development on infill and brownfield sites is expected to occur, to take advantage of the higher returns on property investments.

One of the major challenges, however, in implementing the compact city concept in Malaysia is in limiting urban growth within a specific limit/boundary.  These boundary demarcations shall be installed in all Local Plans, used in the Development Control processes by the Local Authorities. 

To date, there have been many attempts to define compact city, with different parts of the world having different conceptions and approaches, depending on local situations.  Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that compact city will need to be implemented in a way people approve of to build attractive communities at higher density levels than they are currently used to. Lessons from across the globe has seen poor quality development having stigmatized higher density living and continue to affect the acceptability of compact style of living.  For a compact city model to work, more intelligent and acceptable building as well as urban design is necessary, than is visible in the current higher density development.  This visual aspect of urban wellbeing has long been overlooked in this country and concerted effort towards addressing this has to be sought.

The Federal Town and Country Planning Department is currently embarking a study on criteria to determine Urban Growth Limits to be imposed on all urban areas.  A compact city model is an integral part of this, but firstly, a clear definition of the compact city concept in the Malaysian context has to be established.  We invite public opinion on this matter to ensure we do not miss out on any considerations.  Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) will be planned to further explore public, professional as well as opinions of interested groups.

Related Policies :

a)      National Urban Policy

NUP 4 : Urban Growth Limit is determined based on its carrying capacity for all towns in the country.

NUP 5 : Optimal and balanced landuse planning shall be given emphasis in urban development.

NUP 6 : Urban development shall give priority to urban renewal within the urban area.

b)     National Physical Plan

NPP 16 : High priority shall be given to achieve energy efficient ‘compact cities’

Introduction Of National Physical Plan (NPP)

INTRODUCTION

The Act 172 and its amendments provide the legal basis for the preparation of the NPP. Sub-section 6B(1) of the Act 172 makes it a statutory duty for the Director General of the Town and Country Planning to prepare and submit to the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) a Draft National Physical Plan for its approval. To ensure its relevancy and suitability in the fast changing physical, economic, social and natural environment, Sub-section 6B(4) of the Act 172 also stipulates that the National Physical Plan be reviewed every five years in tandem with the review of the Five-Year Development Plan, or as and when directed by the NPPC.

Development planning is practised in all three tiers of the Government in Peninsular Malaysia. At the national level, development planning is guided by the Five-Year Malaysia Plans (FYMP), the National Physical Plan (NPP) and other sectoral national policies that are passed by the Cabinet. They address the strategic issues of national importance and provide the overall framework for subsequent drawing up of the other more detailed Development Plans. Contextually, development planning in the country operates within the stated goals outlined in Vision 2020 and the Third Outline Perspective Plan 2001-2010. Similarly at the state level, development is guided by the Regional and State Development Plans, and other national sectoral policies that are formulated from time to time by the respective state governments. Local level physical planning is carried out and regulated through the statutory development plans, in the form of Local Plans and Special Area Plans, prepared by the local planning authorities. It deals primarily with more detailed and site specific land use allocations and spatial development of each locality and community needs.

An effective national physical planning system should necessarily involve both top-down and bottom-up approaches and it is also crucial that the national spatial policies are incorporated into and integrated with the other sectoral policies, strategies and programs. While the NPP sets out the general directions and priorities of the overall physical development of the nation, the Regional, State Structure and Local Plans will in turn provide significant more detailed strategic thrusts and targets on the states’ aspirations in respect to the future development of the State and Local Authority areas. In the event of any policy or major issue conflicts, discussions will be held with stakeholders concerned to rationalise and reconcile any discrepancies inconsistent with national interests and state aspirations, particularly the achievement of Vision 2020 and the 1Malaysia concept.

The NPP-2 sets out the national long-term strategic spatial planning policies and measures needed to implement them in respect to the general direction and broad pattern of the land use, and physical development to year 2020 in Peninsular Malaysia as a whole. The planning policy statements will be accompanied by the necessary indicative plans, including the future national sectoral planning indicative maps and the national spatial framework key diagram, to support and clarify the strategic spatial policies formulated.

More specifically, the NPP-2 will determine an achievable future long term spatial planning goal for Peninsular Malaysia including identifying strategic national spatial issues and opportunities as well as proposing the key drivers and priorities to realise the goal. The main physical components of the NPP-2, involves the creation of an efficient hierarchy of settlements (such as international gateways and strategic urban hubs / centers), an integrated national transportation network (such as national and regional expressways, high-speed railways, and ports) as well as key infrastructure systems including basic utilities and facilities (such as broadband communication, IT, energy, water, knowledge, schools and health facilities). At the same time, environmentally sensitive areas (such as forests and wetlands) and countryside (such as rural agriculture areas) will also be conserved and preserved. The national spatial framework also intends to indicate to the Federal Government and public agencies on the commitments to future spending and infrastructure investment priorities to support sustainable growth, job creation and income generation in focused areas. As such, it will contribute significantly towards facilitating private initiatives and enterprises to accelerate long-term economic growth with equity, enhancing global competitiveness, promoting sustainable physical development and conserving biodiversity.

GOAL

The Establishment Of An Efficient, Equitable And Sustainable National Spatial Framework To Guide The Overall Development Of The Country Towards Achieving Developed And High-Income Nation Status By 2020.

OBJECTIVES

1. To rationalise and consolidate the national spatial planning framework supported by key strategic infrastructure for economic efficiency and global competitiveness.l
2. To optimise utilisation of land and natural resources for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.
3. To promote more balanced regional development for national economic integration and social unity
4. To enhance spatial and environmental quality, diversity and safety for a high quality of life and liveability
5. To facilitate efficient integrated inter-state connectivity and public common users’ space provision for social interaction and sustainable communities in line with the 1Malaysia concept

Pengenalan Kepada Rancangan Fizikal Negara

PENGENALAN

Akta Perancangan Bandar dan Desa, 1976 (Akta 172) merupakan asas perundangan di dalam penyediaan Rancangan Fizikal Negara. Bagi memastikan kesesuaian dan perubahan dengan keperluan semasa, Sub-Seksyen 6B (4) Akta 172 menetapkan keperluan RFN untuk dikaji semula setiap lima tahun selaras dengan Kajian Semula Rancangan Malaysia Lima Tahun, atau apabila diarahkan oleh Majlis Perancang Fizikal Negara (MPFN).

RFN Ke-2 menyediakan rangka kerja strategik jangka panjang bagi polisi spatial negara dan langkah-langkah diperlukan dalam membentuk halatuju dan corak gunatanah, pemuliharaan biodiversiti dan pembangunan fizikal sehingga tahun 2020 bagi Semenanjung Malaysia. Polisi perancangan yang disenaraikan disertai dengan pelan indikatif , termasuk pelan indikatif perancnagan sektoral mengikut negeri seperti pelan pembangunan rel berkelajuan tinggi, dan pelan rangka spatial negara untuk menyokong dan menterjemahkan strategi perancangan yang dibentuk.

Ianya diharap menjadi rujukan utama diperingkat agensi kerajaan persekutuan dan kerajaan negeri sebagai panduan dalam membangunkan negara dan penyediaan peruntukkan serta di peringkat agensi tempatan dalam mengawal pembangunan dan pentadbiran tanah. Maklumat berhubung unjuran penduduk dan pelan perancangan penyediaan infrastruktur dan kemudahan awam juga di harap dapat membantu sektor pemajuan hartanah swasta dalam merangka projek pembangunan untuk meningkatkan pelaburan negara.

Perancangan spatial adalah suatu proses yang kompleks. Ianya melibatkan pelbagai bidang dan dasar yang berkaitan dengan pelbagai sektor dan pihak-pihak yang berkepentingan seperti sektor perkhidmatan utiliti dan penglibatan daripada sektor swasta. Perancangan fizikal yang berkesan adalah melibatkan penyertaan daripada pendekatan “top-down” dan “bottom-up’. Dalam penilaian semula RFN Pertama, perkara utama yang diambilkira ialah mendapatkan maklum balas secara diskursif dan konsultatif daripada semua agensi kerajaan dan pihak-pihak yang berkepentingan. Ia adalah bertujuan untuk meningkatkan sistem pengurusan bandar yang terbaik (‘Good Governance’) dan penglibatan awam dalam perancangan yang berkesan.

MATLAMAT

Pembentukan Satu Rangka Spatial Negara Yang Efisien, Saksama dan Mampan Untuk Memandu Pembangunan Keseluruhan Negara Ke Arah Mencapai Tahap Negara Maju dan Berpendapatan Tinggi Menjelang Tahun 2020

OBJEKTIF

1. Merasionalisasi Dan Menyediakan Rangka Kerja Perancangan Spatial Negara Dengan Disokong Oleh Infrastruktur Strategik Untuk Mencapai Ekonomi Yang Efisien Dan Berdaya Saing Global
2. Mengoptimum Penggunaan Tanah Dan Sumber Asli Untuk Mencapai Pembangunan Mampan Dan Pemeliharaan Biodiversiti
3. Menggalakkan Pembangunan Wilayah Seimbang Bagi Integrasi Spatial Dan Perpaduan Negara
4. Meningkatkan Kualiti Spatial Dan Persekitaran, Keselamatan Dan Kepelbagaian Untuk Mencapai Kualiti Hidup Yang Tinggi
5. Mengintegrasikan Hubungan Antara Negeri Yang Lebih Efisien Dan Peruntukan Ruang Awam Bagi Interaksi Sosial Dan Komuniti Mampan Selaras Dengan Konsep 1 Malaysia