Two Types of Planning

This paper distinguishes between &dquo;subarea planning&dquo; in which central planning agencies deconcentrate facilities or functions to subareas, and &dquo;neighborhood planning&dquo; in which community residents and organizations develop plans and programs for themselves This distinction is overdue and not trivial, for little of the growing discussion of neighborhoods carefully discriminates among alternative meanings Yet each type of planning has different ends, and much of what passes today as neighborhood planning is actually subarea planning in disguise. This paper draws on a review of research and practice on planning in neighborhoods concerned with housing rehabilitation, economic development, physical improvement, and social services It analyzes each type of planning, its objectives and methods, major participants and obstacles, and impacts and factors influencing practice It concludes that these are distinct movements important to separate, each motivated by distinct ends and values, each implying distinct roles for planners, planning, and planning education and research