AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.04.2002, Qupperneq 47

the local environment, issues concerning open areas,
health, safety, housing, accessibility, economic issues,
urban life, buildings and cultural remains were exam-
ined. In natural resources, the impact on landscape
was looked at, as well as geological resources, waste,
services, land and vegetation. In connection with the
global impact, the biological variety was looked at along
with transportation, modal split, total use of power and
the quality of local climate. Each of these aspects was
then looked at closer with regard to certain scales. An
example of scales that are related to open areas are
the impact on size and number of open areas, their
quality and the „green scarf”.
Nain condusions of the evironmental
assessment
The basic goals of the Development Plan are:
Reykjavík as an ecological city, Capital city, and inter-
national city.
Under these goals, four objectives are defined and
subsequent actions: to encourage dynamic industry,
increase the quality of the built environment, encourage
the economic use of land and service systems, and to
make transportation efficient, safe and ecological.
All these objectives point to sustainable development
and generally have a positive effect on the environ-
ment, economic and social issues. The action intended
to realise these goals fulfills, in all major respects, the
demands for sustainable development. There is a good
internal relationship between the objectives and pro-
grams of the Development Plan. In some instances, it
is important to monitor how they are implemented.
Compared to the existing Development Plan, the new
plan moves Reykjavík nearer to being a sustainable
city. The most important aspects are the limits to devel-
°pment and greater densities, conditions for better
development and an emphasis on ecological transpor-
tation. Neither goals nor objectives in the Development
Plan work against sustainable development, as there
are no unreversible impacts on the capital of natural re-
sources, economy and society.
This environmental assessment of the Development
Plan for Reykjavík 2001-2024 was prepared towards
the end of the planning process when goals, objectives
and programs had finally been decided. The methodol-
°gy used in the environmental assessment is founded
on experience from countries with the greatest expert-
•se in this field. This methodology is, however, better
suited to choice between different alternatives and is
best used concurrently with the planning process.
Under these circumstances, the use of methodology of
the environmental assessment becomes similar to the
use of a checklist, and its value is first and foremost to
assure the planning authority that important issues
have not been overlooked. It should also be empha-
sised that a considerable proportion of the environ-
mental assessment is, by its nature, subjective, and
founded on the assessment of the parties who took part
in this work.
Did the envirenmental assessment
change the preparation of the develop-
ment plan?
It is our experience, working for the City of Reykjavík,
the environmental assessment for the Development
Plan for Reykjavík 2001-2024 made the decision
process clearer and more to-the-point. A better overview
was gained with regard to the environmental impact of
the proposal, which gave leeway for alterations.
With this work, a basis has been formed for the
preparation of environmental assessment of develop-
ment plans in Reykjavík at the development plan and
local plan stage and for the assessment of the impact
of projects at the planning stage. In this way, this pio-
neering work can now be used and will result in more
goal-oriented work and more transparent decision mak-
ing in the near future. Environmental assessment will
therefore be carried out alongside other planning work
in Reykjavík in the future.
Participants in the evironmental
assessment
The environmental assessment was carried out by
the consulting firm ALTA for the Planning and Building
Department of Reykjavík, in cooperation with the envi-
ronmental assment group of the department. Con-
sultants on behalf of Alta were Halldóra Hreggviðsdóttir,
Project Manager; Sigurborg Kr. Hannesdóttir, and Dr.
Riki Therivel, at Levett-Therivel.
Employees at the Planning and Building Department
were Ingibjörg R. Guðlaugsdóttir, Project Manager;
Bjarnfríður Vilhjálmsdóttir, Björn Axelsson and Haraldur
Sigurðsson. Hjalti Guðmundsson in the Department of
Environment and Technology at Reykjavík, Project
Manager for Local Agenda 21, also took part in the work.
■
MAIN REFERENCES:
The Practice of Strategic Environmental Asssessment (1999):
Riki Therivel and Maria Rosário Partidário.
Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment. Volume 1.
Environmental Impact assessment: Process, Methods and
Potential (1999).
45