Development management: Establishing a framework for managing urban development and redevelopment in Taiwan, a case study of Taipei municipality

Rapid urbanization and population growth in Taiwan have led local governments to face two major problems--the need to manage land development and the need to provide adequate public facilities and services. Although the government possesses the tools to regulate land development, these tools frequently are too weak to address market failures and to provide solid solutions. When local governments approve developments without concern for the availability of public infrastructure, unfettered land development not only increases public facility backlogs but also drives up local financial burdens. This dissertation intends to explore how the government can develop effective strategies to manage development and provide adequate public facilities and services. It develops the theory to support government intervention. It explores the background of the existing problems related to land use and public facility provision in Taiwan. In order to suggest feasible strategies for Taiwan, this study evaluates the appropriateness of American growth management programs for Taiwan\u27s situation. This evaluation is based on interviews conducted in Taiwan and analyses of American case studies related to the implementation of growth management systems. This study identifies the feasibility of such programs in dealing with Taiwan\u27s issues. It also recognizes some obstacles that face their implementation in Taiwan\u27s established urban areas arising out of political and equity factors. Therefore, it suggests that the appropriateness of such programs is limited to current non-urbanized areas, which may become new-town development areas, urbanizing areas, and urbanized areas in the near future. Experiences in many countries have demonstrated that local growth control is undesirable because it produces negative impacts within and outside jurisdictions. If growth management techniques are to be effective, they must be implemented within a framework of effective regional planning and intergovernmental coordination, which, in turn is part of the national planning structure. Also, the success of development management should be attributed to the possibility of political support, the availability of administrative capacity, and the sufficiency of funding sources