Compact City and Planning System for Implementation

Abstract

Although the concept of the compact city has already spread widely among Japanese cities, specific actions have not been taken in most cities. Facing severe population decline and rapid increase of senior citizens in a wide-spread urban area, added to the crisis of fiscal conditions, the compact city should be implemented to promote senior citizen health, reduce social welfare costs and public facility maintenance costs, and promote downtown commerce. Our city planning system should facilitate the rebuilding of existing urban structures, shrinking residential areas for maintaining population density and relocating facilities for seniors and children. The target should be flexible and long-term. This new system should have minimal legal force and strict land use control should be enforced only after real land use changes toward the targeted use to some extent. In addition, this new planning system must be compatible with incentive systems such as tax deductions, finances, and subsidies for targeted land use. Finally, each city's financial and legal resources should be strengthened, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the city.