Land Use Planning
Watch the video and answer the following:
What are some factors land use planners consider when planning out the use of the land?
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How would planning for land use in Florida differ from planning in Canada? _______________________
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Who do you think should be consulted when a company wants to build a petroleum factory in an area? Why?
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School Builders
The population of the area has grown and the number of children in the area has risen dramatically. Two
of you are building planners and are deciding the location of two new schools that are needed to handle
the increase.
School builders must:

Decide where each of the schools will go, keeping in mind five important factors such as the
location of the roads (buses need to get the kids back and forth from school), the distance from
the houses, distance from the river (those darn things tend to flood during certain seasons), slope
of the land, and, according to town charter the schools must be at least ¼ of a mile apart from
each other and 35 feet above sea level due to river flooding and swampy areas.

Write out your plan proposal for the location of each of the schools addressing each of the items
above as if you are addressing the town treasurer (holds all of the money and won’t allow the
funds if the plan doesn’t make sense) and the town assessor (makes sure everything is up to town
code and is legal) in a speech.
Factory Builders
You and your partner belong to a corporation that makes dry cleaning chemicals and wants to build a
factory in the area. The production of the chemicals produces waste that needs to be eliminated during
the process. The process also requires large amounts of water. The chemicals, once produced, need to be
put into large drums and shipped in large trucks for distribution. You must approach the town council and
present your plan for the placement of the factory.
Factory Builders must:

Decide where the factory will go, keeping in mind five important factors such as the location of
schools and homes (the town charter strictly prohibits the placement of any factory within ¼ mile
of either), nearness to water for production, nearness to heavy duty roads for shipping in trucks,
slope of the land (factories are hard to build on steep slopes), building costs (land under 30o26.3’
latitude costs twice the amount due to tax zoning laws and will be too expensive to build on and
maintain).

Write out your plan proposal for the location of the factory addressing each of the items above as
if you are addressing the town council (makes all of the town decisions and is worried about
pollution) and the town assessor (makes sure everything is up to town code and is legal) in a
speech.
Town Council/Assessor
Have the other two teams read their scenarios to you. You are members of the town council and are
aware of the building proposals for each of the schools and the factory. The town council and assessor are
responsible for all decisions for the town and making sure that all building codes are followed in the town
charter. The town charter has many regulations concerning business and county building and among
these are:
-Schools must be at least ¼ mile apart due to traffic restrictions
-Schools must be built at least 35 feet above sea level due to periodic river flooding
-All factories must be at least ¼ mile away from any school or homes due to noise pollution
-Private businesses located under 30o26.3’N latitude are subjected to an increase in taxation from 16% to
58%
-3 locations at least 600 square feet must be set aside as land conservation and may not be built upon
(cannot be swamp area).
Town Council/Assessor must:

Decide which areas needs to be set aside for conservation and they must be the appropriate size.
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Must inform school and factory builders which areas they may not build on due to land
conservation
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Must listen to the plan proposals of the school and factory builders and plans must meet all of the
five factors listed in their scenarios.

The issue of the placement of the schools and whether or not a factory should be built in town has
been a hotly debated topic and there are strong views on both sides. You must address the town
in a press conference informing them of the placement of each of the buildings and explain why
their placement is the best for the town. You must address each of the important regulations in
the town charter above.
School Builders must address the following:
• Schools must be ¼ mile apart
• Schools must be at least 35 feet above sea level
• Schools should be near major roads and houses
• Schools shouldn’t be built on steep slopes
• Schools should be a reasonable distance from the river
and swamps due to flooding
Factory Builders must address the following:
• Factories must be at least ¼ mile away from schools and
homes
• Factories must be near water for use in production of
chemicals
• Factories must be near heavy duty roads for truck shipping
• Factories must be built on a gentle slope
o
• Factories built on land under 30 26’20’’ are subject to increase
in taxes from 16% to 58% making it too expensive to build
Town Council/Assessor must address the following:
• Must designate 3 areas of at least 600 square feet to be set
aside for conservation not near swamp area
• Schools must be at least ¼ mile apart due to traffic restrictions
• Schools must be at least 35 feet above sea level due to
flooding
• Factories must be at least ¼ mile away from homes and
schools
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• Factories built under 30 26’20’’ are subject to an increase in
taxes from the current rate of 16% to a new rate of 58%