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| NORTH AMERICAN METROPOLITAN PLANNING AND ITS ENLIGHTENMENT ON THE PEARL RIVER DELTA |
| TANG Lu, XUE De-sheng, XU Xue-qiang |
| Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510275, China |
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Abstract Metropolitan planning has had a long history in North America while in the Pearl River Delta, China, it was not established as a conscious, formal activity of government until the end of the 20th century. The contemporary metropolitan regions in the Pearl River Delta as well as those in the North America face some major challenges. So we can learn a lot from North America, if metropolitan planning in the Pearl River Delta is to be effective in the future. This article is organized into four sections.The first section provides a brief retrospection of the evolution of metropolitan area and metropolitan planning in North America. The second section presents main factors that influence contemporary North American metropolitan planning.This section also presents some major themes in metropolitan planning.These factors and themes are:(1)the challenge of globalisation and the global surveys of metropolitan planning; (2)political culture and the governance; (3)sprawling development patterns and communications and environment; (4)social segregation, disparity and equity; and (5) public participation. The third section discusses the two major forms of metropolitan planning:a corporate and strategic planning model, and an environmental and social planning model.New York metropolitan planning, A Region at Risk, exemplifies the former model, and the Greater Vancouver Regional District planning, The Livable Region Strategic Plan, is the paragon of the latter. The corporate and strategic planning model emphasizes competitive advantage, the environmental and social planning model emphasizes livability, social cohesion, and the maintenance of choice and diversity. This article holds the view that these two models are not in conflict with one another. The final section gives some enlightenment on the metropolitan planning in the Pearl River Delta. (1)Governments and planners should have broader view and global surveys of metropolitan planning, they should also be aw are that the Delta Region faces the challenges from all over the world. (2)In the short term, planners ought to adopt the first planning model as the premier one and in the long term, to make the two models work in harmony with each other. Meanwhile, different forms can be adopted in metropolitan areas in the Delta. (3)Governance should be taken into account. (4)and (5)Workforce and environmental infrastructure are important factors and they should also be included in metropolitan planning.
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Received: 25 January 2003
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2004, Vol. 19 
