Evaluation of Urban Land use Plan implementation: A case of structural Plan of Bale Robe Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land Use Planning Plays A Crucial Role In Guiding The Growth And Development Of Urban Areas, Ensuring Their Sustainability And Livability. It Involves The Allocation And Management Of Land Resources To Achieve Specific Social, Economic, And Environmental Objectives. The Effective Implementation Of Land Use Plans Is Essential For Creating Well-Organized And Sustainable Urban Environments. Despite Having A Land Use Plan In Place, It Is Unclear How Effectively This Plan Is Being Implemented And Key Factors Influencing Its Implementation In Robe Town, Ethiopia That Is Experiencing The Significant Growth. This Research Examines The Extent To Which The Land-Use Plan Of Robe Town, Which Functioned From 2009 To 2019, Guided And Controlled Spatial Developments During The Planning Period By Measuring The Degree To Which Actual Land-Use Outcomes Over A 10-Year Period Conformed To The Plan's Intention. Proposed Land Uses In 2009 Structural Plan Were Mapped, And Actual Land Uses In 2019 Were Mapped Then, Conforming, Nonconforming And Unfulfilled Developments Were Identified Through Spatial Overlay Analysis In A Geographic Information System Environment. The Degree Of Conformance Success Of The Plan Over The Planning Period Was Explored Using Two Indicators: Boundary Sufficiency Ratio (BSR) And Boundary Containment Ratio (BCR). A Descriptive Exploratory Approach Was Used To Determine Potential Factors Influencing The Plan's Implementation From The Data Collected By Expert Interview. The Findings Show That The Extent Of Social Service Land Use Shows Overutilization, Surpassing The Proposed Area Of 246 Hectares With Actual Utilization Of 364 Hectares (147.9%). Furthermore, Manufacturing And Storage Land Use Decreased From 566.06ha Area To 29.9ha Indicating A Large Non-Compliance Rate Of 94.74%. The Findings Also Demonstrate That Although The Plan Proposed A Reasonable Area, Except For Social Service, It Has Failed To Guide The Spatial Location Of New Developments In Residential And Manufacturing And Storage Land Use Classes. The Study Also Reveals That Failure Of Land Use Plan Implementation In Robe Town Are Due To Low Awareness Of The Community And Lack Of Participation, Weak Leadership, Poor Monitoring And Evaluation Of Plan Implementation, Lack Of Boundary Demarcation With Rural Kebeles. To Effectively Implement Future Structure Plans In Robe Town, It Is Essential To Foster Community Participation And Raise Awareness About The Structure Plan Among Residents To Ensure It Meets The Expected Standards. Additionally, The Integration Of Modern Technologies Such As Geographic Information Systems (GIS) And The Deployment Of Skilled Manpower Are Crucial For Enhancing The Efficiency And Effectiveness Of The Land Use Plan Implementation In Bale Robe Town.