Simon Fraser University
Fall 2012
GEOGRAPHY 363-4: URBAN PLANNING AND POLICY
DR. MEG HOLDEN
Harbour Centre Office: 2128
Main Campus: RC Brown Hall 7138
Office Hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:00 at HC
Phone: 778.782.7888
Email: mholden@sfu.ca
PREREQUISITES
30 units, including one of GEOG 241 or 261; or permission of the instructor.
COURSE FORMAT
Lecture: Tuesday 5:30 – 7:20 pm, Harbour Centre 2270
Tutorials: 2 hrs. (E101 – Tues @ 7:30 HC2290; E102 – Thu @ 4:30; E103 – Thu @ 6:30
HC2280) **DOES NOT MEET FIRST WEEK**
TEXTS REQUIRED:
Grant, Jill. 2007. Reader in Canadian Planning. Scarborough: Thomson Nelson Canada.
Stone, Deborah 2002 Policy Paradox. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. Revised Edition.
RECOMMENDED: Punter, John. 2003. The Vancouver Achievement. Van.: UBC Press.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course builds on Geog 261, Introduction to Urban Geography, by developing an
understanding of contemporary urban planning and policy processes as well as specific planning
skills. Students will be introduced to major approaches and key ideas of the professions of urban
governance: urban planning and urban policy. Urban planning, a process of considering and
taking action to organize inhabitation and use of the urban environment, has deep roots in the
Canadian urban experience. The study of urban policy addresses, more broadly, the way social,
economic and environmental goals are set and programs are designed, implemented and
evaluated. Learning about urban planning and policy involves learning a suite of urban
professionals’ tools: spatial, organizational, sociopolitical, economic, ethical and technical.
Spatial variations in cities’ economic positions, historical attention to special themes in urban
development, like comprehensive or strategic planning, as well as underlying goals like equity,
efficiency, accountability, sustainability, and good design all are key issues to be covered. While
the course will include case studies from a number of international cities, we focus particularly
on our home city of Vancouver, engaging in real-time debates on topics including immigration
and integration, gentrification and housing, and planning and policy for the sharing economy.
EVALUATION
Tutorial Participation: 20%
Assignment #1. Student-led Neighbourhood Tour: 10%
Assignment #2: Planning/Policy Research Memo: 10%
Assignment #3. Comparative Review of Green City Plans: 10%
Assignment #4. What Planners Do: 15%
Final Exam (3 hours): 35%
PROF. HOLDEN
GEOG 363 - 1