Planning for a New Town

Techniques developed by the writer in the preliminary planning for a new town on a 5,000-acre penal farm site at the edge of Memphis, TN, are described. The unusual opportunities presented by public ownership and prime location are stressed. As an aid in keeping track of the many possible choices to be made in the planning process, a series of four matrices were devised. It is expected that a large number of reasonable land use plan concepts will be prepared and evaluated to determine which concepts best reflect the community goals and objectives established for the project. The selection and arrangement of land uses on the various concepts will also be compared. A goal matrix, a land use evaluation matrix, and design evaluation matrix are proposed to aid in the process. A land disposition matrix is to be used in the evaluation of various ways to make the land available to developers. Management of the project is to be accomplished with the aid of the Critical Path Method.