Suwon City Enacts Regulations on Integrated Management of Urban Planning and Environmental Conservation Plans

[Suwon Ilbo=Staff Reporter Kang Han-seo] Suwon City has established a foundation for pursuing 'sustainable development' based on the balance and harmony of urban development and environmental conservation.

Suwon City has become the first local government nationwide to enact the 'Regulations on Integrated Management of Urban Planning and Environmental Conservation Plans' and has completed the legislative notice period. The regulations are scheduled to be promulgated in July.

The core of the 'Regulations on Integrated Management of Urban Planning and Environmental Conservation Plans' is the balance between development and environmental conservation.

According to the regulations, the procedures and contents of urban planning and environmental conservation planning formulation must be linked. Going forward, environmental values such as nature, ecology, air, and water quality must be more actively considered when establishing urban plans.

The city's regulation enactment follows the 'Joint Directive on Integrated Management of National Land Plans and Environmental Conservation Plans' jointly enacted by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport agreed on the linkage of environmental plans and national land plans in February 2013. In December 2014, revisions to the 'Environmental Policy Basic Act' and 'National Land Basic Act,' which serve as the legal basis for the agreement, were passed through the State Council. In March of last year, the 'Joint Directive' was enacted and implemented.

The city enacted the regulations by reflecting the general provisions of local governments specified in the Joint Directive in a manner suited to regional characteristics.

The regulations stipulate ▲alignment of planning periods for urban planning and environmental conservation planning ▲composition and operation of the Suwon City Planning Establishment Consultative Body ▲integrated management matters necessary for plan formulation ▲mutual linkage and sharing of information necessary for integrated management, and so on.

'Alignment of urban planning and environmental conservation planning periods' will be applied starting with the '2040 Urban Master Plan,' which will be the first plan formulated after the regulations take effect.

'Integrated management' refers to a policy process in which procedures, contents, and other aspects of plan formulation are linked, supplemented, and cooperated with when formulating urban plans and environmental conservation plans to achieve the common goal of sustainable development.

The Director of Environmental Affairs must establish spatial environmental information on environmental conditions and management plans in various sectors such as water, air, nature, ecology, and soil when formulating environmental conservation plans, making it available for use in urban planning.

Additionally, the Director of Urban Policy must consider living area structure configuration, development volume adjustment, land use plan changes, and environmental load distribution methods to ensure that urban planning does not worsen environmental conditions or interfere with management plans.

The departments responsible for urban planning and environmental conservation planning will share urban geographic information, urban spatial information, and environmental monitoring information necessary for plan formulation and integrated management.

Integrated management matters include ▲management, conservation of natural ecosystems and restoration of damaged natural ecosystems ▲systematic urban space management and ecological connectivity ▲energy-efficient spatial structure reorganization and expansion of renewable energy use ▲securing clean water and preparedness for water shortages ▲reduction of air pollutants for air quality improvement ▲greenhouse gas reduction in response to climate change ▲reduction of waste emissions and enhancement of resource circulation rates ▲and other matters concerning the conservation and improvement of urban environment for sustainable development.

Co-administrators (Director of Urban Policy and Director of Environmental Affairs) must compose and operate the 'Suwon City Planning Establishment Consultative Body' when coordinating and formulating urban plans and environmental conservation plans.

The city plans to form the consultative body in October. Co-administrators must review decisions and agreements made by the consultative body and reflect them when formulating plans.

The consultative body, chaired by the Vice Mayor, will be composed of no more than 20 members, including civic organization and academic representatives and experts recommended by the Director of Urban Policy and the Director of Environmental Affairs.

The regulations also include provisions for requesting review by the Urban Planning Committee to supplement and adjust matters if integrated management is deemed insufficient.

A city official stated, "The urban development and environmental conservation departments will cooperate closely from the planning stage to achieve the common goal of 'sustainable urban environmental management,'" adding "we will share policy directions and current issues based on the regulations."