PLANNING OF SINGAPORE MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY URBAN DESIGN PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM

Abstract

Public participation is extending its wings in the planning of Singapore public policies. This can be seen by the fact that part of the Singapore 21 program is to look into active participation of Singaporeans in community and national life. However, public participation is a concept, laden with ideology and assumptions that can meet with controversies over the way it is carried out. Thus, there is a need to manage it by taking into account the views of different participant groups in its planning process. It is in this context that a study on public participation in urban planning is undertaken. A case study on the Singapore Management University Urban Design Public Symposium is used to leam about the planning process of this participation exercise. There are six decision variables (Alterman, 1982) to guide planning for participation: the type of substantive issue, goals and objectives, the definition of public, the power relationship, the stage in the planning process and the types and amounts of resources. The study finds out the different views, approaches and recommendations of the planner and the participants in the Singapore Management University Urban Design Public Symposium. Thus, more knowledge about the six decision variables in the planning of a participation program is gained. Another important observation gathered from the study is that participants are very concerned that their views will be taken seriously. Thus, justifications will have to be made if for some reasons, their views cannot be taken.