PLN 2601- Assignment 3
Timothy Reed
Sn: 10181773

Contents Scope 3 Urban Design 3 Principles/Elements 3 Local Character 3 Quality of the public realm 4 Connectivity 4 Diversity 5 Area Background 5 Local Character 5 Connectivity 6 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design 7 Renewable Energy 8 Density 8 Mixed use 9 Adaptability 10 High quality public realm 10 Integrated decision making 11 User participation 11 Reccomendations 11 Glossary 11 Bibliography 12

Scope
This report will identify and briefly discuss the Environmental and Physical influence, the particular urban design principles, and what opportunities and constraints these principles present for urban design application generally. The report will then discuss, with examples, how Wastewater management, Mixed use development, and public access and amenity, already apply in the area surrounding Grand Boulevard to the south of Joondalup Central business district (Appendix A). It then provides recommendations on how green roofs, crime prevention and housing density, can be applied to this area, to address the constraints and/or take advantage of opportunities.
Urban Design A definition of urban design has been offered in an article by Kevin Cambell and Robert Cowan in Planning (12 February 1999). Urban design can be considered to be
"the art of shaping the interaction between, people and places, environment and urban form, and nature and built fabric, and influencing the processes which lead to successful villages, towns and cities."
Urban Design is the art of making places for people. It is therefore how they function, not just how they look. It covers the connections between people and places, movement and urban form, nature and the built fabric and the processes for ensuring successful places are delivered and maintained.Urban design draws together many strands of place-making – environmental concerns, social equity and economic viability – to create places which work and are sustainable in the long term. (Urban Design Compendium, 2009)
Principles/Elements

Environmental and Physical
Local Character
Place making should respond to the existing natural and developed features of the environmental context. A place that enhances the distinctive local landscape, sense of place and history whilst providing a quality living environment will establish a rich environmental character unique to its locality.
• Distinctive landscapes
• Natural features
• Locally distinctive built form
• Streets patterns which respond to the context
• Special spaces of natural or cultural significance
• Skylines and roofscapes
• Building materials
• Local culture and traditions
• Avoiding standard solutions
(ACT planning, 2009)
Connectivity
Ease of movement for residents and visitors, whether by car, walking or bike is reinforced by consideration of connectivity and permeability and provides for an community which is easy to get to and to move about in. Movement in a community is enhanced by;
• Density highest where access to public transport is best
• Roads, footpaths and public spaces connected into well-used routes
• Easy accessibility
• Direct routes that lead to where people want to go
• A choice of safe, high quality routes
(ACT planning, 2009)

Morphology

A technical term describing shape is directly influenced by the built environment.
(Valparasio University, 2009)

Crime prevention Through Environmental Design

Crime prevention through Urban Design provides the opportunity to reduce the incidence and fear of crime. There are three basic strategies, these being natural access control, natural surveillance and territorial reinforcement. (Victoria Police, 2007)

A potential limitation to the effective application of CPTED is the constraint caused by legal boundaries and different land ownerships. (Queensland Police, 2005)

One of the key constraints may be the cost of implementation. Although many CPTED strategies are relatively cost-free and easy to accomplish in a short time frame (for example, changes to policies), other projects may require significant investments of capital and phased implementation over several years. (Zahm, 2007)

Social and Cultural
Quality of the public realm
Good urban design provides a sense of well being and amenity by ensuring recognition of the natural context and the functional requirements of the community and responding with:
• Public spaces and routes that are lively and pleasant to use
• A feeling of safety and security
• Uncluttered and easily maintained streets and public places carefully detailed with integrated public art and functional elements
• Well-designed lighting and street furniture
• Places suited to the needs of everyone, including disabled and elderly people
• Attractive and robust planting appropriate to the locality
(ACT planning, 2009)

Defensible Space
Is the idea of informal monitoring, neighbourhood watch, maintenance and monitoring of public space by the community. (Newman 1972)

People and Culture
Essentially, Provides safe and easy access community for children, elderly, those with special needs. To reinforce the idea of community.

Governance and Policy

Adaptability
Provision for changing lifestyles and community needs enhances the future social and economic sustainability of a community A place that can change easily provides for:
• Flexible uses
• Possibilities for gradual change
• Buildings and areas adaptable to a variety of present and future uses
• Reuse of historic buildings and spaces
(ACT planning, 2009)

Diversity
Diversity of space and function provides the Community with a range of experience and choice. This can be achieved through;
• Place making to provide for variety of function and land use
• Opportunities for multi function and land use
• Variety of spatial planning defining fabric
• Provision for a broad cross section of community and cultural values
• Variety of built form and development character
• Opportunities for biodiversity
(ACT planning, 2009)

Economic and Financial

Case Study Area
Ocean Reef is a suburb North of Perth (appendix 1), located in the City of Joondalup, with a population exceeding over 8,000 people. The area is predominantly residential with single houses per block, with an R20 residential code, Civic and cultural zoning, business and mixed use, and parks and recreation. (City Of Joondalup, n.d)
Local Character
The distinctive identity of a particular place that results from integrating many factors, including built form, people, activity and history.

There is huge opportunity in the Ocean Reef area to enhance the Local character. With few defining features, it is difficult to determine the Character of this area. The population according to the City of Joondalup Key statistics (2006), Ocean Reef has a population of 8,089 people, with almost 50% of its residents being born overseas, and the majority being between the ages of 5 to 17, or 8 to 64, (City of Joondalup, n.d) which leads to a wide range of activities, requirements and social groups.

The area is situated on a slight hill barely fifty meters above sea level, sloping from East to West, and from the centre south and north, with green open spaces located on the hilltop, to the North, and to the south. (Explore Oz, n.d)

1980’s brown brick housing, large residential blocks dominate the existing visual character of the area, when Culdesacs were considered favourable. Wide green open spaces with adjoining water overflow pits, little natural vegetation, aging primary and High School and a small, outdated shopping centre.

This lack of development for what can be considered the last 30 years, has led to what only can be perceived as an outdated character.
Opportunities exist in many areas to enhance the character of the area. Inline with the City of Joondalup Landscape Master Plan (2009)(JLMP), Verges and Median strips should be developed and enhanced as to promote water efficiency, to present the diversity or natural flora of the surrounding area, and augment the entries into the suburb (appendix 6).

There are a number of houses currently being renovated throughout the suburb, to modernize and renovate their appearance. This provides an avenue for the modernising of parks and recreational areas, and public places, to create a more modern character and enhance the amenity of the area. This can also be linked into the JLMP, for creating a more environmentally friendly character.

As with the planning of the huge Ocean Reef Marina Development (City of Joondalup, 2009), which has been described as a having “potential to house a world-class facility”, is of great opportunity to the suburb. As within Suburbs such as Hillarys (the marina promoted “Harbour rise”, with a classy, modern character), the Marina will impact on the surrounding area, such as increased house pricing above the statewide rate, and unprecedented road use. Therefore it is essential that Local character is adapted to conform to the modernising infrastructure, and to maintain its attractiveness.

Connectivity
The physical conditions facilitating access within a region, city, town, or neighborhood.

Generally, traditionally planned, older suburbs such as Ocean Reef, have good access to services within easy walking distance. The street layout and design means that there is good local road connectivity, and local shops are often part of the suburbs. (Department of Energy, Infrastructure and Resources, 2010)

According to the Liveable Neighbourhoods policy (2004), suggests that Clearance of trees and provisions for traffic calming, with increased emphasis on traffic speed control and land efficient street reserves, and Increased support for walking, cycling and public transport routes and stops.

In regards to street structure, there is little opportunity in the way of road structure, as established housing prevents the demolition of the multiple Cul-de-sacs that exist within the area. However, there is a great opportunity for traffic calming, and increased pedestrian access within the area. Traffic Calming tends to reduce total vehicle mileage in an area by reducing travel speeds and improving conditions for walking, cycling and transit use (Crane, 1999; Morrison, Thomson and Petticrew, 2004). Residents in neighborhoods with suitable street environments tend to walk and bicycle more, ride transit more, and drive less than comparable households in other areas.

To enable more adequate connectivity for pedestrians in the suburb, it is suggested that a number of “pinch points”, essentially Curb extensions, planters, or centerline traffic islands to narrow traffic lanes to control traffic and reduce pedestrian crossing distances, be implemented along the major arterial roads in Ocean Reef. These being (appendix 1) Swanson Way, Venturi Drive, and Diamond Drive. Along with assisting the prevention of antisocial behaviour in motor vehicles, such as burnouts. (Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2010)

These curb extensions should be should not only be for safety, but also implemented and designed so that they add visual amenity, and reinforce local character in the area.

To overcome the constraints is difficult in this situation, as the area is well established, and a re development of roads would be unviable, having to demolish a number of houses, at a great expense and inconvenience to owners.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Territorial reinforcement could be enforced throughout the area, with some seats and shelters that increase community ownership, in turn hopefully reporting and hopefully preventing the crime. This would also make the area more used by the community, in turn preventing or at least reducing crime.

The Park and surrounding areas also need a better lighting system, Mirror Park and throughout the paths, as lighting is minimal, or not substantial enough to light the numerous blind spots and hiding places.

Throughout the area, a number of bushes are too high and should be trimmed to increase visibility of the car park to buildings, or from the buildings across the pathway to the car park, especially at night. (Zahm, 2007) In accordance with the Joondalup Landscape Master plan, it is suggested that instead of trimming these trees, Hydrozoning and native fauna should be planted, and green space reduced to minimise water usage and ultimately wastage.

Renewable Energy The Ocean Reef shopping Centre has a large roof surface area, underused and wasted. Therefore it is proposed Solar and wind power should be implemented to offset some of the Carbon footprint, and high cost of energy. (Cameron, 2009) Green roofs on the top of the shopping centre would be costly, and a huge strain on the building structure at present, essentially down to the huge weight of plant material, dirt and water. This is why the solar power is opted for. Standing alone, green roofs have many benefits. They limit rainwater runoff, improve water quality, conserve energy, reduce the urban heat-island effect, actually extend the life of roofing materials underneath. But with added solar power, they actually increase solar efficiency. (Dan, 2009) Equinox Mall in South Africa generates 40% of its daily energy usage from 8, 260watt panels, and 60% from a 3kw Wind turbine. There is also another Mall in Johannesburg’s, Nicol Shopping centre that has a 100kw solar system on the roof, which generates 25% of the energy, needed, with 456 panels. (Merwe, 2010) To overcome the constraint of structural insufficiency, the Ocean Reef shops would need to be structurally reinforced, however, it may be easier to develop the land and build an entirely new complex. Essentially enhancing the surrounding area with this new shopping facility.

Density
There are a number of constraints that exist in Ocean Reef when it comes to density, however, the main constraint is the Residential Coding of the area of R20. The residential design Codes (2006) states that in Ocean Reef twenty house per hectare are permissable. However, it is up to the developer whether they chose to implement the maximum R20 code, or whether less houses per hectare would be more appropriate. Privacy has become an important design element, because the increased density of development on a lot can mean a significant loss of amenity. To overcome this issue of privacy The Residential Design Codes introduces the concept of “Cone of Vision” to assist in Privacy Design to reduce the horizontal and vertical impact of overlooking. Assessing distance and screening from neighbouring dwellings and the need for acoustic and electric light privacy are other considerations required to ensure privacy.

Determination of density can be done on case by case basis, or suburb. The West Australian (2010) reported that Perth will require 328,000 homes to be built by 2031. With the majority of these being built in the metropolitan area. This provides an avenue for the City of Joondalup to revise the R codings in their Local Housing Strategy, possibly to R30, or medium density, allowing for an increased number of residential dwellings, or apartments per hectare.

According to the draft recommendations of the Local Housing Strategy (2010) suggests “replacing the residential coding of R20 which currently applies to all commercial and mixed use zoned land outside the City Centre with R80.replace the residential coding of R20 which currently applies to all commercial and mixed use zoned land outside the City Centre with R80”.Increasing the density of residential development within commercial centres is in line with the State Government’s new draft Activity Centres Policy which seeks to broaden the function of commercial centres beyond retailing. Increasing the residential component of Commercial and Mixed Use areas may also encourage the redevelopment and revitalisation of poorly performing commercial centres as well as providing additional housing choice.

Mixed use
A variety of living and working activities are in close proximity within a neighborhood.

There are five main mixed uses in Ocean Reef, all within walking distance from each other. The Local school is across from the Ocean Reef shops, residential surrounds the school, and Mirror Park lies to the South.

There is a distinctive constraint in relation to the Zoning in Ocean Reef. (appendix 3) there is very little mixed use and commercial land set aside. The majority is extensively residential, which poses a number of problems. Firstly, the land is zoned residential, and is already fully developed, and secondly the mixed land use already provided is small, such that it allows for little development, and only some redevelopment. The education zone in Ocean Reef is surrounded by roads and houses, providing no opportunity for expansion outside of this. The only avenue for expansion within this area, is if the school is redeloped into a multi-story establishment, or the school oval is encroached on, of which neither are practical.

Opportunities exist, in that if the Ocean Reef shopping complex was to be used more efficiently, the Kensington Village Model would be appropriate. The shop was reveloped during the 1980’s at the approximate time that the Ocean Reef shops were opened. The Kensington Village, offers essentially the same products such as cafes, grocers, newsagency, and pharmacy, and can be compared equally in size. (appendix 7) (Kensignton Village Centre Management , 2010)
Ocean Reef shops should, in line with the Local Planning strategy ensure street frontages are pedestrian-friendly and active through a range of measures, such as prohibiting residential uses on ground floors, permitting alfresco areas, providing visually permeable facades, and protecting pedestrians from weather events. (City of Joondalup, 2010)

Adaptability
The capacity of urban buildings, neighbourhoods, and spaces to changing needs.
There are many constraints that restrain adaptability in Ocean Reef. There is the Local Housing Strategy, as in Ocean Reef there are a number of Policies and Plans

High quality public realm
Good quality environment in all places the public access and which provides the setting for community and public life.
Ocean Reef is characterised by a lack of good quality environment. Bus shelters are fabricated concrete, verges are dry and weeded, the Ocean Reef shops are characterised by graffiti and a dilapidated petrol station, and a large park characterised by a sandy bike track, and bushes surrounding sump pits.

There is little constraint in relation to creating a good quality environment for public access, however, the Liveable neighbourhoods Policy provides a number of objectives that new developments must adhere to, and also redevelopments. These being: 1. Introduce wider range of parks and open space 2. Provide for community purpose sites 3. Integrate natural areas and cultural features to enhance character 4. Combine parkland and drainage provision 5. Provide foreshore and riparian reserve for regional open space 6. Balance bushland / vegetation retention and water management with useable open space provision 7. Parkland frontage and resident surveillance, local parks, Neighbourhood parks, 8. Investigate Cash in lieu and land transfers 9. Develop public open space to minimum standard 10. Significant Vegetation, Habitat and Cultural Heritage conservation 11. Integration of new development with abutting existing residential development 12. urban structure for improved public transport nodes
(WAPC, 2006)

Mirror Park in Ocean Reef is currently a sporting oval, with a public toilet, bike track, and two sump pits. However, to enhance the area, it is suggested that Hydrozoning works that are being carried out throughout the city of Joondalup, such as Ellersdale park in Warwick. (Joondalup Weekender, 2010)

Planting native flora, and minimising the green space, would not only provide for a better public environment, but also minimise water wastage. The City of Joondalup has instigated major hydrozoning and ecozoning project at Emerald Park, Edgewater and significant changes to the irrigation system to improve watering efficiency. Mayor Pickard described the best practice as a “success”, “reducing groundwater usage while maintaining the park’s amenity and usability”. (City Of Joondalup, 2010) Especially due to the Fact that the City of Joondalup exceeded its water licence entitlements by 1.1 billion litres in 2008-9. (Thomas, City of Joondalup named as water guzzler, 2010)

As mentioned in the Mixed Use, Ocean Reef shops should be redeveloped to provide a more attractive area for the public to shop.
This higher quality park will be in line with the LMP to ensure that City parks are managed to high levels of amenity to encourage increased physical activity in the area: To ensure that the City’s water consumption complies with regulatory requirements, and Hydrozoning and Ecozoning is implemented. (City of Joondalup , 2009 )

Integrated decision making
Integration between and within organisations involved in urban policy, planning and implementation, as well as the integration of the urban design elements.
There are many opportunies
User participation
The public consultation process and other forms of involvement in urban design projects, such as surveys and design workshops. A perfect example of User Participation

Reccomendations

1. Solar Energy to be implemented on the roof of the Ocean Reef Shops 2. In line with the JLMP (2009) (appendix), Verges and Median strips should be developed and enhanced as to promote water efficiency, to present the diversity or natural flora of the surrounding area, and augment the entries into the suburbs
Glossary

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
The basis of Crime Prevention through Environment al Design (CEPTED) is that good design and an intelligent layout and use of the built environment can reduce the fear of crime and its incidence. This in turn leads to clear improvements in the quality of life. (Planning SA 2004)

Hydrozone Application of different amounts of irrigation water to various zones, according to need,
E.g. active turf requirements compared with that of passive turf. (City of Joondalup , 2009 )

Bibliography
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