Generating and Evaluating Alternative Regional Development Plans

The generation of alternative spatial regional development plans is one of the two most important steps in a comprehensive rational planning process. The other step is the plan-evaluation process, which enables us to rank-order the alternative plans and, subsequently, to make a rational selection of the ‘best plan’. In order to generate the set of alternative spatial plans, it is necessary to identify and define adequately and clearly the goals and objectives that the plan is designed to serve. In this paper we report on an actual planning process in which development plans were generated and evaluated, and then the best plan was selected and prepared for the Northern (or Galilee) region of Israel. The Northern region is one of the most fascinating regions in Israel in terms of the composition of its residents, its settlements, and its landscape. The region is well endowed with breathtaking views and a wealth of natural resources. It is therefore necessary for the preferred spatial development plan both to respect and guard this diversity of human and natural assets and to provide opportunities for economic growth that will result in an improvement in the standard of living of the inhabitants and their quality of life. The delicate balance between preservation and development is thus of paramount importance. We describe the process in which alternative spatial development plans were generated. This set of plans took into consideration existing and future development of transport and communication networks in the region as well as alternative spatial development patterns—concentration versus dispersal. The impact of each plan generated on the social, economic, and environmental objectives was carefully reviewed with the EVAMIX computer program. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted in order to ascertain the stability of the rank order of the alternative plans.