Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
in the ROG . The types of plan, procedures for drawing up and adopting spatial
plans as well as the actual content differ significantly between Länder (Moll, 1994) .
Spatial plans at Land level normally contain broad statements of development
intentions covering issues such as population projections, settlement hierarchies
and priority areas . Spatial plans draw on a number of planning elements of both
conceptual and instrumental importance such as zones/land use categories,
central-place system, axes, functions and planning targets (Turowski, 2002).
Federal legislation regulates the content of Länder and regional spatial plans, and
these have to be presented on a topographic map base, although there is flexibility
with regard to the symbolisation. The LEP/LEPros comprise concrete spatial and
sectoral objectives illustrated in a diagrammatic manner usually at a scale of
1:200,000 to 1:500,000 (or smaller) and covering the entire territory of the Land ,
and are supported by an explanatory text (which is usually non-binding) (CEC,
1999a). Plankarten (plan maps) at this level are not site-specific but should rather
provide a guiding framework and leave lower planning tiers (sectoral planning and
development planning) enough scope for specification. Plans at Land level are pri-
marily aimed at other professionals in sector departments or at lower planning tiers,
but not the general public (Moll, 1991).
With the exception of the small state of Saarland and the three city-states, all
Länder have responded to the option in the ROG to introduce a distinct and inter-
mediate tier of spatial planning. The regional tier of spatial planning thus forms the
link between the comprehensive spatial planning at Länder level, and local land use
planning. Regionalpläne (regional plans) have to conform to the Raumordnungs-
and the relevant Landesplanungsgesetz (federal and Länder spatial planning Acts),
as well as to the state development plans or programmes by giving concrete detail
to the aims of spatial planning for the specific region. The ROG provides the
Länder with two options for the organisation of regional planning in their territories:
first, regional planning may be conducted by regional planning associations, con-
sisting of a number of municipalities and counties and set up specifically for the
purpose of regional planning, or second, it may be conducted by state planning
authorities (in which case a formal procedure allows local authorities to participate
in regional planning). Both options have been applied by the Länder , albeit with
sometimes quite major modifications. This, in addition to vastly diverging definitions
of the term 'region', has led to significant diversity across the German territory as to
how spatial planning at regional level is conducted. There have been several
attempts to harmonise and systematise the cartographic design of regional plans in
Germany (cf. Junius, 1991a), yet to date no agreement on the content and symbol-
ogy for higher level plans has been reached.
The second planning function in the German system, local land use plan-
ning, is a bottom-up process. The principal regulations regarding land use and
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