GEOG 425 Community & Regional Development: Planning for Sustainable Communities Fall 2009 – Butte 503 Dr. LaDona Knigge Office Hours: T/W/Th 3:30-4:30 or by appt. Office: 533 Butte Hall Campus Phone: 898-5881 Email: [email protected] NOTE: Please specify GEOG 425 in subject line in all emails. NOTE: This syllabus is subject to change due to requirements of mandated unpaid furlough days resulting from extreme budget cuts to the CSU system. See last page for more information about 2009/2010 CSU furloughs. SYLLABUS DATE: August 27, 2009 Much of this urban world is gray, paved with concrete and asphalt, and/or brown, polluted by industry, automobiles, and waste. The challenges of the urban present give rise to widespread trepidation and distrust in our ability to leave a legacy of healthy communities to future generations. Jennifer Wolch (2007) [Farmers’ markets] embody what is unique and special about local communities and help to differentiate one community from another (93). Thomas Lyson (2004) Communities that nurture local systems of agricultural production and food distribution as one part of a broader plan of economic development may gain greater control over their economic destinies, enhance the level of social capital among their residents, and contribute to rising levels of civic welfare and socioeconomic well-being (84-5). Thomas Lyson (2004) Course Description: This course explores the historical roots of today’s sustainability movement and examines ways that geographers and planners can engage in creating more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable communities at multiple scales, from the local community to larger regional communities. The course emphasizes sustainable planning theory based upon the ecological worldview and that differs from traditional planning theory in its long-term perspective on human and ecological well-being with a holistic outlook that honors relationships between humans and the environmental at multiple scales from the scale of the individual to the global.GEOG 425: Planning for Sustainable Communities Fall 2009 Dr. LaDona Knigge T/Th 12:30 – 1:45 PM 2 Sustainable planning theory values the uniqueness of place and accepts that there are limits to growth that require prioritizing economic activity that produces goods and services that people need and finally seeks to expand the definition of public participation to involve individuals and groups from all walks of life in problem solving and public policy decisions. Class Components: • Readings, theoretical framework • Essays and/or exercises, field trips and/or activities • Group Project • Class participation • Public presentation Group Project Students will work in small groups (3-5 persons) preparing specific sections of a study of the location of the Saturday Chico Farmers Market. We will be developing this study under two frameworks: sustainable planning theory and civic agriculture. The term ‘civic agriculture’ references the emergence and growth of community-based agriculture and food production activities that not only meet consumer demands for fresh, safe, and locally produced foods but create jobs, encourage entrepreneurship, and strengthen community identity. Civic agriculture brings together production and consumptions activities within communities and offers consumers real alternatives to the commodities produced, processed, and marketed by large agribusiness firms (2). Thomas Lyson (2004) The Saturday Chico Farmers Market has been at its present location between 2nd and 3rd Streets and Flume and Wall Streets since 1993. It operates on a publicly owned parcel of land referred to as Municipal Parking Lot No. 1 under a yearly franchise agreement with the City of Chico. Recent discussion in the Internal Affairs Committee has centered on safety and other issues at the Farmers Market. In the course of the discussion, a suggestion was made to consider alternative locations for the market such as the Municipal Parking Lot behind City Hall that is bounded by East 4th and 5th Streets and Flume Street. Figure at left: Current location of Saturday Farmers’ MarketGEOG 425: Planning for Sustainable Communities Fall 2009 Dr. LaDona Knigge T/Th 12:30 – 1:45 PM 3 Three Es of Sustainability Sustainable Planning Theory • Long term perspective • Holistic Outlook • Acceptance of Limits • Focus on Place • Active Involvement in problem-solving We will be working in small groups to conduct a study of the location characteristics of current site and surrounding areas. We will also be collaborating with students in Dr. Gitelson’s RECR 300 on the study. The components of the study are being designed and separate guidelines will be distributed. We will have guest speakers from the City of Chico, the Saturday Farmers Market and other stakeholders throughout the semester. Student groups will produce written reports of the components of the study and the semester will culminate in a public presentation at the December Internal Affairs Committee Meeting on Tuesday Dec 8th 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Required Materials: Wheeler, Stephen. M. 2004. Planning for Sustainability: Creating Livable, Equitable and Ecological Communities. New York NY: Routledge. http://www.routledge-ny.com/books/Planning-for-Sustainability-isbn9780415322867 Optional text: Due to mandated furlough days the following text is optional: Wheeler, Stephen M., and Timothy Beatley, eds. 2009. The Sutainable Urban Development Reader, Second Edition. Edited by R. T. LeGates and F. Stout, The Routledge Urban Reader Series. New York, NY: Routledge Original edition, 2004. http://www.routledge-ny.com/books/Sustainable-Urban-Development-Reader-isbn9780415453820 NOTE: Above books are available at CSUC AS Book Store. Reserve books are available at the Meriam Library. PDF copies of Chap 1 & 2 of Wheeler can be found on VISTA . ADDITIONAL READINGS WILL BE POSTED ON ERes and VISTA. We will also read some web-based material and readings that will be made available on the electronic reserve (ERes) from the limited library loan service, through VISTA or handed out in class. Additional readings that are pertinent to our group projects will be assigned throughout the semester. Students will also be expected to conduct research for materials relevant to