Methods of Land Use Planning and Analysis

Local jurisdictions vary considerably in their approaches to land use and urban planning. Extensive knowledge of a site is essential for proper land use planning and management. The most frequently used technique for organizing and displaying information on land areas best and least suited for development activities is the comprehensive suitability map. The soil survey has become one of the most important tools in land use planning. A very important characteristic of soil, from the standpoint of land use planning, is texture, which determines to a large extent its ecological and economic properties. The drainage characteristics of soil are extremely important in determining the suitability of an area for urban or commercial uses. The process of analyzing environmental opportunities involves the assessment of natural potentials of an area for various land uses. The land use guidance system is the most frequently used systematic method for formulating, implementing, and monitoring the performance of a land use plan.