Planning Challenges

Here’s an interesting blog post that compares modern planning ideals with those of previous Communist regimes!

Looking Back – the ideal Communist City

Makes for a good read – the takeaway quote is in the last line:

“But the dangers of placing ideology before what people prefer are manifest, whether in 20th Century Russia or America (or NZ?) today.” (my words in italics).

So, the challenge is for our planners to know, and have regard for what people prefer. Unfortunately, the process whereby planners hear what people prefer is bound up in District Plan reviews, which is quite complex, and as always, open to interpretation.