Planning 01

SITE: CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES

Module 3
Faculty Instructor: Ar. EnP. Kirby S. Mercado
Contact link: Email: arkithesidents@[Link] FB Messenger: Kirby Mercado FB Group:
[Link] Your personal Learning Management System
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• Every site is a unique interconnected web of things and activities that imposes
limitations and offers possibilities.

• A site or project/planning area varies in size, location, and characteristics. “A

site in its own right is a living, changing community of plants and
animals.” Such a community also has its own interests that should be
conserved, preserved or protected
• Knowledge of the site is vital in planning especially in mitigating competing or
conflicting interests between potential users and existing occupants to avert
natural disasters such as severe erosion, water intrusion, flooding, a drop in
the water table, etc.

• The site and its intended purpose are closely interrelated. Understanding the
site to define or establish the essential character or nature of the site or “the
spirit of the place” to maintain, to some degree, a continuity of the
preexisting conditions within the locale.
• A sufficient knowledge and understanding of the nature of the site would make
the planner much conscious and sensitive to the site’s distinct character and
“closely knit” complexity “as to be worthy of his interest, concern, and even his
affection.”

• Understanding the site has two branches – one oriented to the users and the
other to the site itself.
SITE INVENTORY and ASSESSMENT
• Involves a thorough assessment of the natural environment and the
associated physical characteristics of the site and its surroundings.
• Such factors are found above, below, and on the ground, for they make up the
nature of the site.
• Knowing these factors and their interrelationships enables one to determine
site constraints (threats) and potentials (opportunities).
• Knowledge of constraints and threats can mitigate or minimize potential
damage or adverse effects that site development may cause on the ecological
and social fabric within the site or within the general vicinity of the site.
• Knowledge of the potentials and opportunities of the site can clarify, reveal, or
enhance the nature of the site as well as the plan or design.
PREPARING A SITE PROFILE

Site inventory and assessment require the collection of comprehensive and

structured sets of data descriptive of the geophysical, biological, and social
environment in the site and around the site. A site profile is the outcome of this
activity.
For planners, site profile provides information on the status and characteristics
of the various aspects of the environment which are indicative of the potentials
and weaknesses of a particular area.
For decision makers, the site profile provides information on the environment
needed in the formulation of policies, strategies, or business decisions
pertaining specifically to the area or to the environment in general.
For those concerned with the assessment and monitoring of the
environment, the site profile provides benchmark information on the
environment with which various scenarios can be drawn up with the introduction
of particular development project/s.
In General, The Site Profile is a valuable tool:
• In making better decisions and trade-offs for more rational or sustainable
development;
• In taking stock of or assessing the status of the environment of an area as of a given
time;
• In providing information on the environment for consideration in project planning and
development as well as for monitoring and evaluation of a project’s impact on the
environment;
• In preparing and evaluating the Initial Environment Examination or the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); and
• In providing information for the purposes of management and conservation of the
environment.
ZONING DEFINED.
• Zoning is a legal regulatory tool to implement the land use plan.
• Zoning is the designation and allocation of territorial areas of city or
municipality into functional land use zones and districts.
• Uses in accord with goals and objectives of local development plan.
NATIONAL LAND USE AND ALLOCATION SCHEME
• Land Classification which involves the assessment of unclassified lands under the
public domain which include surveying, classifying, studying and mapping areas into
agricultural, forest or timber, mineral and national parks;
-National government/DENR; congress delineates limits of forest lands and
national parks.
• Land Reclassification is the subsequent classification, allocation and disposition of
lands of the public domain, classified as alienable and disposable into specific uses;
-National government/DENR in coordination with LGUs.
• Land Subclassification is the act of determining and assigning the uses of
classified public lands;
-National government/DENR
• Zoning is the legislative act of delineating areas or districts within the
territorial jurisdictions of cities and municipalities that may be put to specific
uses and their regulation, subject to the limitations imposed by law or
competent authority;
-LGUs
• Land Use Conversion is the act of putting a piece or parcel of land into a
type of use other than that for which it is currently being utilized.
-National government/DAR
COMMERCIAL AREAS
TYPES OF COMMERCIAL AREAS
Central Business District (CBD)
1. Major CBD – shopping, service area with largest dept. and variety stores,
specialty shops, business and professional services, hotels, theaters, etc.
2. Minor CBD – market as main feature (types: wholesale market, wet and dry
market);quasi-residential-commercial or mixed use development.
Commercial Strip – extension of CBD
Neighborhood Center – local sources of staple and convenience goods and
services; built around supermarket with convenience stores; population
served: 7,500-20,000.
SITE SELECTION CRITERIA (COMM’L)
• Site must be most desirable general area as established by the economic
survey
• Site must be owned or controlled by developer
• Land cost must be in keeping with overall economic consideration
• Existing zoning must permit shopping center development
• Site must contain sufficient land to permit construction facilities
• Land must be in one piece, free of intervening roadways, right-of-way,
easements, major waterways, etc
• Topography and shape of site must permit advantageous planning
• Surrounding road pattern and accessibility must allow full utilization of the
business potential
• The structure must be visible from major thoroughfares
• The surrounding areas should be safeguarded against blight
• Retail facilities should be exposed to maximize foot traffic
• Various mechanized traffic types and foot traffic be separated and distinct
from one another
• Maximum comfort and convenience for shoppers and merchants should be
provided for
• Orderliness, unity and beauty should be achieved
TYPES OF BUSINESS OR TRADE
Wholesale Trade – resale of new and Banking and Finance
used goods (w/o transformations) to Insurance
retailers.
[Link] wholesalers Real Estate
[Link] branches and sales offices Service
3. Assemblers, buyers, coops -Business services
Retail Trade – resale to the general -Recreational services
public. -Personal services
-Sale for personal/household consumption
-Sale from displayed merchandise
-Renting goods to general public; repair and
installation services
SITE SELECTION CRITERIA (TRADING)

• It should be an urbanized area

• There must be a developed economic and servicing activity and an
established link with other key areas
• Site must be in strategic and convenient locations, with modes of
transportation for communication and distribution of goods
• Site must be along arteries and with more than one line of access
CLASSIFICATION OF INDUSTRIES
1. ACCORDING TO RESOURCE
• Resource-Oriented Industries. These are characterized by the large
proportion of raw materials value to total production value. They are located
in areas where resources are available, thus minimizing added cost to the
transportation of raw materials.
• Market-Oriented Industries. These include processing which usually adds
bulk and weight to the products. Hence, distribution costs and other related
problems are minimized if they are located near marketing centers.
• Footloose Industries. These industries are second-stage users where
processing cost of materials count more than transfer costs. Thus, they are
located where their linkages are greatest.
2. ACCORDING TO CAPITALIZATION
• Cottage Industry -An activity with total assets not exceeding P500,000.
• Small Scale Industries -Total assets should be P500,000 to P5,000,000.
• Medium Scale Industries -Total assets should be P5,000,000 to
P20,000,000.
• Large Scale Industries -Total assets should be over P20 million.
3. ACCORDING TO HAZARD/RISKS
• Hazardous Industries. These are fire and health hazards. Non-hazardous
industries discharge negligible amounts of combustible or toxic wastes.
• Pollutant Industries. These industries discharge large amounts of air, water
or solid pollutants. Pollutant industries emit little or negligible amounts of
these pollutants.
• Light. Non-pollutive / non-hazardous; non-pollutive / hazardous
• Medium. Pollutive / non-hazardous; pollutive / hazardous
• Heavy. Highly pollutive / non-hazardous; highly pollutive / hazardous; highly
pollutive / extremely hazardous
4. ACCORDING TO EMPLOYMENT SIZE
• Cottage Industries -Industries with an employment of less than 10 workers.
• Small Scale Industries -Industries with 10 to 99 employees.
• Medium Scale Industries -Industries with 100 to 199 employees.
• Large Scale Industries -Industries with 200 or more employees
SITE SELECTION CRITERIA (INDUSTRY)
• Site should be fairly flat, not more than 5% in slope. Topography and land surface
shape must permit advantageous planning and reasonable construction.
• Soil and sub-soil condition should afford adequate bearing capacity for economical
construction of buildings.
• Soil and sub-soil condition must be suitable for location , site preparation and utility
connection.
• Site is preferably agriculturally marginal.
• Site should be free from erosion.
• There must be good external surface drainage and internal soil drainage and free
from flooding hazard.
• Site should be accessible preferably to all weather road or rail facilities.
FACILITIES HOSPITALS AND HEALTH
1. RURAL HEALTH UNITS
• Barangay Health Station (BHS) – the BHS is the initial unit which dispenses of basic
health care (maternal and child care, immunizations, treatment and health conditions,
nutrition, family planning, sanitary health care, emergency treatment and health education).
• Main Health Center (MHC) – the MHC engages in a broad range of activities covering
mostly referrals from the BHS and the preventive, promotive and curative aspects of health
care.
2. CITY HEALTH CENTER
• The City Health Center (CHC) renders the same services as that of the Main Health
Center but under the administrative and technical supervision of the City Health Office.
3. MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL
• The Municipal Hospital has a service zone with a radius of approximately 30 kilometers.
It should be located in settlements not provided with hospital services, thus, serving as
local gravitation points and socio-economic centers. In special cases, it may be located in
remote areas and provided with adequate transport facilities.
4. SECONDARY CARE DIST. HOSPITAL
• The Secondary Care District Hospital provides definitive care in the four basic specialties:
medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. These specialties are however not
departmentalized and required to have services as radiology, pharmacy, dietary and laboratory in
areas where the provincial hospital is accessible, facilities for emergency cases are provided.
• Service radius of at least 35km.
5. TERTIARY CARE PROV’L HOSPITAL
• The Tertiary Care Provincial Hospital offers services like that of district hospitals but on a
departmentalized basis. Additional facilities/services such as operating rooms, dental services and
out-patient units as well as support services/facilities like x-ray and laboratory are provided.
• Preferably located at the capital town; catchment area is the whole province.
6. TERTIARY CARE REG’L HOSPITAL
• The Regional Hospital is usually located in the regional center and offers more services than a
provincial hospital. Facilities/services provided are: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Units
(CCU), Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat (EENT) services, orthopedics and delivery room facilities.
Nursing services to assist the specialists are likewise provided.
7. MEDICAL CENTER
• The Medical Center offers special care beyond the capabilities of Regional
Hospital. The center provides opportunities for training, teaching and research in
the medical field.
8. GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL
• It is a hospital operated and maintained partially or wholly by the National,
Provincial, Municipal or City Government or other political subdivision, board or
other agency.
9. PRIVATE HOSPITAL
• It is a hospital owned, established and operated with funds raised or contributed
through donations, or by private capital or other means by private individuals,
association, corporation, religious organizations, from company or joint stock
association.
10. GENERAL HOSPITAL
• It is a hospital that provides services for all kinds of illnesses, diseases,
injuries or deformities.
11. SPECIAL HOSPITAL
• It is a hospital that provides services for one particular kind of illness/diseases
or health medical care need.
12. TEACHING & TRAINING HOSPITAL
• It is a fully departmentalized hospital with accredited residency training
program in a specific specialty or discipline.
HOUSING. The National Shelter Program is implemented by the HUDCC and
other key shelter agencies. The NSP shall guide LGUs on existing housing
policies.
 RA 7279 mandates gov’t agencies to assist LGUs in the planning & implementation of housing prog.
Policy thrusts of NSP include:
• Housing as a means of social intervention and catalyst for economic for economic activity.
• People-centered and aided self-help approach to housing.
• Maximum multi-sectoral participation.
• Easier land access for housing.
• Development of regional growth poles.
• Sustainability and matching of housing finance with beneficiaries’ affordability.
• Maintenance of ecological balance in urban development and housing.
• Improvement of housing delivery system.
RA 7279 requires LGUs to conduct an inventory of lands identifying sites for socialized housing
TYPES OF BUILDINGS (from NSO)
Single House – an independent structure intended for one household,
separated by open space or walls
Duplex – a structure intended for 2 households, with complete housing facilities
for each
Multi-Unit Residential – 3 or more units, intended for residential use only,
usually consisting of 3 or more housing units.
CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS (NSO)
• Under Renovation/Being Repaired
• Under Construction
• Unfinished Construction
• Needs No Repair/Needs Minor Repair
• Needs Major Repair
• Dilapidated/Condemned
The year the building was built refers to when construction was completed.
TENURE STATUS OF HOUSE OR LOT
Owned/Being Amortized – the household is the owner & has the legal
possession of the housing unit
Rented – occupant pays rent either in cash or in kind
Occupied for free with consent of owner
Occupied for free without consent of owner
TYPES OF SUBDIVISION
Subdivision Project – a tract or a parcel of land registered under RA 496 which is
partitioned primarily for residential purposes into individual lot with or without improvements
thereon, and offered to the public for sale, in cash or in installment terms.
Condominium Project – the entire parcel of real property divided or to be divided primarily
for residential purposes into condominium units including all structures thereon.
Economic and Socialized Housing – housing project for moderately low income families
with lower interest rates and longer amortization periods.
Open Market Housing – constructed and financed by the private sector as a business
venture and sold at prevailing market prices and interest.
SHELTER NEEDS CATEGORY
• New housing units needed to answer the requirements of future generations
• New units to cover for housing backlog
• Upgrading need
TYPES OF DENSITIES
❑ Low Density – less than 150 persons per hectare of residential area
❑ Medium Density – 151 to 250 per ha.
❑ High Density – more than 250 per ha.

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
1. Potable water
2. Power and electricity and adequate power distribution system
3. Access to primary roads and transport facilities
DISTANCES AND TRAVEL TIME

Residential zones to - neighborhood center: 750m or 15mins; minor CBD: 12kms or 15-
30mins; major CBD: 45-60mins
Recreational areas to - shopping center: 5mins travel or 15mins on foot
Education center (schools) – minimum of 15mins by public transport
Health center (hospitals) – minimum of 800m or 10-20mins travel time
Police station – 5mins travel time
Fire station – 3-5mins travel time
Garbage or disposal area – 5-10kms or 15-20mins travel time of garbage truck
• ELEMENTS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS (DOXIADIS).
❑ Nature – the natural physical environment.
❑ Man – an individual, Homo Sapiens – biological needs (oxygen, nutrition), sensation and
perception (five senses), emotional needs (satisfaction, security, sense of belonging), moral
values.
❑ Society – a group of individuals sharing the same culture, values, norms, mores, and traditions.
❑ Shells – buildings, the built component – housing, hospitals, schools, town halls, commercial
establishments, recreational facilities, industrial buildings, etc.
❑ Networks – links within the settlement and with other settlements, transportation systems,
communication systems, water supply systems, power and electrical systems, etc.
HIERARCHY OF SETTLEMENTS
❑ A hamlet, a neighborhood, a small village.
❑ A community, a town.
❑ A city, an urban area.
❑ A metropolis.
❑ A conurbation – a composition of cities, metropolises, urban areas.
❑ A megalopolis – merging of two or more metropolises with a population of 10 million or
more, a 20th century phenomenon.
THE IMAGE OF THE CITY. A collective image – map or impressions – map of a city, a collective picture of what people
extract from the physical reality of a city.

There are five basic elements which people use to construct their mental image of a city:
• Pathways – major and minor routes of circulation to move about, the city has a network of major routes and a
neighborhood network of minor routes; a building has several main routes which people use to get to it or
from it. An urban highway network is a network of pathways for a whole city.
• Districts – A city is composed of component neighborhoods or districts; its center, uptown, midtown, its in-
town residential areas, trainyards, factory areas, suburbs, college campuses, etc. Sometimes they are
considerably mixed in character and do not have distinct limits like the midtown in Manhattan.
• Edges – the termination of a district is its edge. Some districts have no distinct edges at all but gradually
taper off and blend into another district. When two districts are joined at an edge they form a seam. A narrow
park may be a joining seam for two urban neighborhoods.
• Landmarks – the prominent visual features of the city; some are very large and are seen at great distances;
some are very small and can only be seen up close (street clock, a fountain, or a small statue in a park).
Landmarks help in orienting people in the city and help identify an area.
• Nodes – a center of activity; distinguished from a landmark by virtue of its active function; it is a distinct hub of
activity. Times Square in New York City is both a landmark and a node.
These five elements of urban form are sufficient to make a useful visual survey of the form of a city. They are
the skeletal elements of city form.