Strategic planning and design of urban development and housing

Virginia Jackson

Abstract

To date town planners have had only a marginal interest in urban pet management. On the whole it has been seen as a by-laws issue except in a very few areas where pet ownership has been prohibited or restricted as a condition of planning permit or as a basic restriction on the zone. However town planners can have a role to play through the implementation of appropriate urban design principles. Some principles most appropriate to pets have been identified and developed in a recently released document 'Pets in Urban Areas : A Guide to Integrating Domestic Pets into New Residential Development'. The guidelines are part of a growing movement to improve many aspects of residential planning in response to the nationwide push to promote urban consolidation.

It is hoped that the guidelines will encourage everyone to think about pets in decisions about residential and community development. This includes home owners, architects and developers as well as councils and other authorities who approve housing and subdivision plans. develop housing policies and who are interested in ensuring that there is diversity in the nation's housing stock.

About the author

Virginia Jackson BTrp (Hons) MRAPI
Harlock Jackson Pty Ltd
Planning and Development Consultants
19 Victoria Grove
HAWTHORN EAST VIC 3123
Telephone (03) 882 6065
Fax (03) 882 8145

I am a Town Planner with experience working in State and Local Government and for the last 6 years as a consultant to private individuals and companies, community groups and the government. In 1991 my firm completed a review of town planning policies and regulations in Victoria for their impact on pet ownership. We identified the push for urban consolidation as a policy of considerable potential impact. These findings led to the preparation in 1993 of national guidelines for integrating pets into new residential development.

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