PUBLIC FACILITIES

PLANNING

THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF

PUBLIC
FACILITIES
Public facilities, as the name implies, are
generally regarded as the responsibility
of government, whether central, regional
or local, and more often than not are
provided by government institutions.
However, public facilities are also
provided privately, when the
government-provided services are
perceived to be inadequate.

This sub-chapter gives guidance on the

planning of public facilities within residential
settlements. Public facilities are defined as
those basic services which cannot be supplied
directly to the individual dwelling unit and as a
result are utilised away from the individual
residential dwelling unit within the public
environment. Public facilities satisfy specific
individual or community needs - including
safety and security, communication, recreation,
sport, education, health, public administration,
religious, cultural and social.

(especially in less mobile communities)

through the use of mobile public
facilities - such as clinics, post offices
and public telephones. Through mobile
facilities the ideal of allocating scarce
resources, whilst at the same time
serving the greatest number of people,
can be achieved.

Functional categories of public

facilities

Public facilities can also be defined in

terms of the function that they serve
(i.e. education, health, recreation,
culture and administration). illustrates
the hierarchical categories and also
indicates whether the facilities are
publicly or privately provided, and the
order of the facility.

THE PROVISIONS OF PUBLIC

FACILITIES

Major public facility improvements serving

communities are provided by governmental
units. The major planning vehicle for larger
facilities is the capital investment program
.This is a five or six-year program for
construction and financing of new facilities
called for in comprehensive or land use plans.
Because major facilities are interrelated,
expensive, and timely, they are carefully
planned as part of the local government
budget process.The first years

estimate budget in a five-year capital

budget. The provision of public facilites
at smaller scale often occurs in the
context of the subdivision ofland.
Formally, the subdivision of land is the
legal process of dividing large parcels
of undeveloped land into smaller parcels
of land for development.

TYPES OF PUBLIC FACILITIES

FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC UTILITIES

WATER SUPPLY

SANITARY SEWER

STORM-WATER SEWER

PRIVATE UTILITIES

GAS

ELECTRICITY

TELEPHONE

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE OFFICES

FIRE AND POLICE STATION
LIBRARIES
SCHOOLS
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION

Standards for required improvements include

the engineering standards and specifications
for public improvements the developer must
provide.Generally includess the following
step;

1.Preapplication meeting- The developer meets

the building officials to discuss proposed
development in terms of municipality
requirements.(zoning,subdivision
process,required improvements)

2.PRELIMINARY PLAT-developer submits

preliminary plat(design) which includes proposed
plan of buildings sites,layout of streets and
utilities, and other features. The plat is reviewed
by the different offices wether it is rejected or
approved.
3. FINAL PLAT-the developer prepares and
submits final plat which includes all details of the
proposed development such as names of the
subdivisions and streets, layouts of subdivisions,
lots etc...It constitute a legal document that is
recorded with the registrar of deeds and approved.

4.DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS- the

developer and the local government unit
agrees with the plan and financing of
required public improvements, such as
streets ,sanitary and storm sewers,
waterlines...etc.The required improvements
must be constructed in accordance with the
applicapble standards.
5.FINANCIAL GUARANTEES-The developer
must guarantee the provision via a bond,
letter of credit, or escow account.

6.ENGINEERING PLANS-Final engineering

plans are prepared and approved by the
municipal engineer prior to the construction.
7.INSTALLATION OF IMPROVEMENTS-The
required improvements are constructed and
must be approved by the city engineer with
approval of building permits.

HIGHWAYS AND STREETS

The design of streets and highways also
involves the consideration of many factors
such as the ff;
Topography
Land use type
Access characteristics
Traffic information
-projected traffic volumes
-types of vehicles using the facilities

URBAN DRAINAGE
SYSTEM-The water supply
is concerned with both the
quantity and quality of
water. Quality involves
being able to meet future
population growth, as well
as to meet the needs of
fire
fighting,industry,business
and other uses. Water
quality concerns a supply
of water that is safe for
drinking and contains no
undesirable odors or
colors.

URBAN DRAINAGE SYSTEM-The drainage of

water from rain- or snow storm can be handled
by surface drainage in open channels or streams
and/or drainage of storm water,flooding and
water quality problems can result.The major
steps in developing urban drainage system are
prediction of future storm water runoff amounts
and layout and design of the drainage
system.The 1st step involves and analysis an
analysis of rainfall data and land use information
to provide an estimate quantities and rate of flow
of the water that will enter the drainage system.

The second major step is the layout and

design of the drainage system. A drainage
system may be an open system in the form of
channels and streams or a closed system
consisting of underground storm water sewer.