Case Study: Revising Santa Monica's Zoning Code for Sustainability

This case study examines the urban planning challenges faced by Santa Monica, California, particularly the revision of its zoning code to address sustainability concerns amidst increasing residential and commercial development. The project analyzes the city's existing zoning regulations, which initially allowed for increased development but lacked considerations for environmental impact. The case study details the people involved, including the city planning division and architectural review board, and outlines the project's goals to improve the zoning code and minimize environmental threats. The results highlight the creation of a shared understanding of balancing development with a sustainable environment. The study also discusses public engagement efforts and the project's connection to urban planning specialization, emphasizing the complexities of designing zoning codes for sustainable urban environments. The case study concludes by referencing relevant literature and resources.

ASSIGNMENT 4- FIELDS OF PLANNING CASE STUDY

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Table of Contents
Project Background and Context...............................................................................................3
Project description......................................................................................................................3
 People Involved...............................................................................................................3
 Goals...............................................................................................................................3
 Results.............................................................................................................................4
 Public Engagement..........................................................................................................4
 Connections to Specialization.........................................................................................4

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Project Background and Context
The project discussed in this report specializes in urban planning in the city of Santa Monica,
California, where a statement of work was provided to maintain the sustainability of the city
while expanding on the need of accommodating growing residents. The city is located at the
beach side of the California coast and it has already the high residential density with more
residents per square mile than most of the other adjoining cities. In order to accommodate and
make a suitable development and housing for the population, it has risen as a wicked problem
due to certain parameters. The previous old zoning code of Santa Monica has allowed an
increase in additional residential and commercial development with lower heights. Analysis
for the Floor Area Ratio including the need for height and density for the town were missing
which means no suitable planning was done to expand the city infrastructure (smdp.com,
2016).
The new zoning code allowed an increase in height and density along with boulevards
resulting in an increase in the allowable square feet of residential and commercial
development. However, being a beach town it has created immense pressure on the
sustainability of the place. In the last 35 years, commercial office place has captured millions
of square feet which further increased the daily influx of thousand workers. The residential
population is about 92000, however including the workforce and tourists the daily population
rise up to 200,000 (smdp.com, 2016). This has produced a negative impact on the
environmental situation of the city as sustainability are favored by low rise buildings. Taller
buildings are less sustainable than a typical low rise 2 to 4 story building in a beach town
environment. The document from the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) of the City
‘s required general Plan, Santa Monica had revised zoning code that stipulated land use and
characteristics like height, density, parking requirements in order to encourage development
(smdp.com, 2016). The project has undertaken aims at analyzing the present situation
carefully and revise the zoning code for allowing an improved environment for the
population. By carefully analyzing the need of the residents, the problem of increased density
was addressed by incorporating development and sustaining the environment with the new
zoning code.
Project description
 People Involved
The people involved in revising the new zoning code are the city planning division
administers who are going to be responsible for implementing city development and
land use policies, policies for urban design and heritage preservation program. The
analysis for addressing the wicked problem will be undertaken by the Architectural
review board and Planning Commission personnel (Kwakkel, Walker & Haasnoot,
2016). Along with providing direct services to the public through a public counter, by
preparing hand-outs and responding to the inquiries of the citizen, the planning
division involved the extensive community and worked closely with the community
to identify and solve the issues and ensure new development aligns with the
sustainability of Santa Monica.
 Goals
The main goal of this project was to improvise an existing zoning code of the Santa
Monica town and minimize the environmental threats that are produced by the non-

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sustainable zoning code. The strategic planning includes preparing area plans, specific
plans and also update on the general plan. The whole process for identifying the key
issues involved undertaking planning studies and special projects for conducting
community outreach and also develop the creative design for the projects associated
with the plan (Head & Alford, 2015).
 Results
The project achieved its goals mainly by creating a shared understanding of
accommodating development and improve the environmental situation of the town.
The project undertaken focused on balancing the development with a sustainable
environment that is typically favorable for a beach town like Santa Monica. The
people involved in the project identified the detailing of the problems. The main
elements that contributed to achieving the initial goals were incorporating the forest
master plan, gateway master plan and park and recreation master plan (Kwakkel,
Walker & Haasnoot, 2016).
 Public Engagement
The engagement during project design and implementation was limited to the
designated public counter in the city of Santa Monica and also preparing hand-outs by
responding to the inquiries of the citizen. The public was carefully analyzed to
understand their perceptions and views on the extensive development of the city in the
last few decades.
 Connections to Specialization
The specialization within this wicked problem-solving project involved urban
planning of a city where the environment sustainability was kept in consideration
while accommodating the development and increased residential people. The urban
planning is most challenging when designing a zoning code by the architects for a
sustainable environment. The urban planning in the Santa Monica beach town adopted
carefully analyzed zoning code that will support a sustainable environment by
stipulating land use and development standards.

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References
Head, B. W., & Alford, J. (2015). Wicked problems: Implications for public policy and
management. Administration & society, 47(6), 711-739.
Kwakkel, J. H., Walker, W. E., & Haasnoot, M. (2016). Coping with the wickedness of
public policy problems: approaches for decision making under deep uncertainty.
smdp.com (2016) Why urban planning in Santa Monica is a ‘wicked problem’ [Retrieved
24/04/2019 from https://www.smdp.com/why-urban-planning-in-santa-monica-is-a-
wicked-problem/152934]