Introduction:

Preservation of the natural environment in a clean, healthy state is very important to the
people. Environmental plannings purpose is to ensure that growth and development should be
balanced with the interest of protecting natural resources, including open space, wildlife habitat,
natural washes and floodplains, as well as addressing related issues of energy conservation,
recycling, and air and water quality.

Environmental Planning
-

also known as urban and regional planning, city planning, town and country planning,
and/or human settlements planning
Refers to the multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying, clarifying,
harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land and water
resources in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable communities
and ecosystems.
Refers to activities connected with the management and development of land as well as
preservation, conservation and management of the human environment. P.D No.1308,
March 2, 1978
Objective is to liberate communities from urban light and congestion and promote
ecological balance. PD933, HLURB
Is a deliberate, organized, and continuous process of identifying different elements and
aspects of the environment, determining their present state and interaction, projecting
them throughout a period of time in the future and formulating and programming a set of
actions and plans to attain desired results.
Refers to activities concerned with the management and development of land, as well as
the preservation, conservation, and rehabilitation of the human environment.

Nature and Scope of Environmental Planning

-

Dynamic. Changes overtime, responsive to new demands and needs of people.

Cyclic. Unending process.
Multidisciplinary. Requires the expertise of various disciplines.
Continuous. Plan is prepared, approved, implemented, reviewed, and evaluated.
Time-bound. Plan must have a time perspective.
Comprehensive. Covers all aspects of man and his environment.

Environmental Planning Elements

Air Quality
Water Quality and Conservation
Natural Resources
Waste and Resource Recovery
Energy Conservation

Air Quality
Poor air quality can have a significant effect on public health and welfare. Additionally,
air pollution is associated with a range of environmental and economic impacts. Burning of fuels
from automobiles and industrial sources contributes to a range of air pollutants, including carbon
monoxid, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
Land use planning that encourages mixed use and planned developments may result in
fewer automobile trips which mean a reduction in vehicle emissions. Circulation policies to
encourage walking, bicycling and transit use also can result in lower automobile emissions.
- Air quality: addresses the issues that contribute to degradation of air quality.
- Community gardens: provide green spaces, preserve agricultural heritage, and provide
residents with agricultural experiences.
- Mixed use development: decreases the number and length of auto trips, thereby
reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and the need for parking spaces.
- Alternative modes of transportation: reduce the use of fossil fuels, thereby decreasing
air pollution and reducing traffic congestion
Water Quality and Conservation
Programs to affect water conservation through pricing and regulatory controls are limited
by the lack of ownership of the system. Water conservation programs can be more easily
administered through a municipal system since individual use can be directly monitored and
tracked. Conservation programs, whether voluntary incentives or regulatory controls, can be
more readily linked to a centralized system than to independent private wells which operate with
limited oversight. Sources of water pollution include non-point source pollution, such as run-off
from streets and dumping of household toxic and automotive wastes.
- Water supply availability: ensures water to meet projected needs.
- Reclaimed water use: increases water supply through reuse.
- Groundwater use and artificial recharge: stores excess water for future use.
- Water quality: ensures compliance with health standards.
- Water demand management (Water Conservation): saves water, reducing
groundwater use.
Natural Resources
Natural resources include a range of plant and wildlife species and their associated habitats.
Land use policies that encourage preservation of natural areas in association with new
development not only help protect those natural areas but also provide a valuable amenity that
adds value to the development.
- Natural physical environment: addresses the human impacts on the natural physical
environment.
- Brownfield reclamation: increases the amount of developable land served by
infrastructure and eliminates blighted conditions.
- Erosion control: preserves soils and vegetation.
- Flooding protection: protects people, property, and the natural environment from
damage or destruction.
- Vegetation protection: preserves native plants for aesthetic and functional purposes.
- Wildlife habitat protection: preserves the natural environment necessary for wildlife
survival.

Waste and Resource Recovery

Participation in waste reduction and recycling programs addresses long-term regional interests in
assuring adequate and affordable landfill capacity will be available in the future. Additionally,
recycling programs can be associated with economic development through the promotion of
secondary material markets, such as paper recycling mills.
- Noise mitigation: reduces the negative impacts from human-generated noise in the
physical environment.
- Pollution prevention: reduces the use of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes.
- Recycling of solid waste: reduces the need for landfills and increases the amount of
recycled materials.
Energy Conservation
Energy conservation can be applied to a range of areas, including electric power use, heating
and cooling of buildings, and transportation needs. There are a number of things that can be done
promote energy conservation, including retrofitting Town buildings to use energy efficient
lighting, ensure new vehicles purchased are fuel-efficient models, support recycling by
purchasing recycled content products whenever possible, and ensure any new Town buildings
consider energy-efficient designs that incorporate solar and natural climatic principles, such as
site orientation and use of local materials.
- Energy efficient planning and design: reduces need for energy resources including the
production of energy that generates pollution in its use or generation.
- Green building techniques: encourage the use and reuse of materials and products that
have been produced with minimal use of resources.
- Urban heat island: modifies the built environment to reduce the amount of heat
absorbed by man-made surfaces and later released.

Environmental Planning Goals:

The natural physical environment should be preserved and conserved while

acknowledging that development will occur in some areas.
Improve significantly the quality of air we breathe
Strive to reclaim and redevelop Brownfield lands
Explore opportunities for community gardens and small urban farms
Encourage the efficient use of energy resources
Encourage green building construction techniques
Explore options to minimize the impacts of urban heat island effect
Improve the quality of life by reducing urban noise levels
Use pollution prevention and waste minimization techniques to help reduce the
environmental impact of city operations
Utilize economical, safe and feasible recycling and disposal of solid waste

Environmental Planning Objectives:

To maintain high standards of air quality

To ensure the highest possible level of water quality and water conservation practices
To support the preservation of natural resources
To help in comprehensive waste reduction and resource recovery programs
To promote energy conservation and use of energy efficient materials

Environmental Planning Recommendations:

Gray water irrigation systems for residential uses

Preservation of natural habitat in areas less desirable for development
Encourage economic development program that supports recycling
Consider using recyclable products and materials as much as possible
Support upgrading buildings and facilities to use energy conservation techniques
Solar access easements for new developments
Continue and expand educational programs that address environmental protection and
conservation techniques
Develop design guidelines for streets and residential development that help reduce or
soften road noise, particularly from freeways and major arterial streets.
Encourage the study of alternative solutions to solid waste disposal.

References:
http://www.prc.gov.ph/prb/?id=14&content=80
http://www.prc.gov.ph/prb/default.aspx?id=14&content=82
https://www.phoenix.gov/pddsite/Documents/pdd_pz_pdf_00166.pdf
www.clarkdale.az.gov/2002GeneralPlan/environment.pdf
*yung iba galing sa notes. Antaray may notes. Hahaha XD