Help, our land utilization plan is outdated!
The municipality of Tapfheim in Bavaria would like to develop further. Conditions are good; there is a brisk demand for developed sites, measures to improve the environment of housing areas are being planned and traffic problems of far-reaching implications beyond the local district are about to be solved. However, before the planning can be started, a valid land utilization plan has to be submitted to the authorities (district administration). It specifies how the individual plots of land may be utilized and what utilizations are planned. Unfortunately, such a plan is usually outdated after 10 to 15 years and thus of no use. We need a new plan. And along with it an accompanying landscape plan. For the nature conservation law calls for a landscape plan as a specialized ecological plan complementing the land utilization plan. It deals with the concerns of nature and landscape, thus promoting environmentally compatible land utilization and avoiding conflicts in advance.

During stock-taking, data preparation and graphic transposition of the plan fundamentals, HPC had already done a good deal of work for the municipality of Tapfheim. They were satisfied with us. And since we are an interdisciplinary team and therefore in a position to quote all work in connection with the development of municipalities, the municipality of Tapfheim awarded us the contract.

Facts belonging in the picture
A landscape plan has to reflect the landscape as comprehensively as possible because it is the basis for all further planning such as, for example, the set-up of an ecological account (which designates compensation areas). So what belongs in a landscape plan? The shape of the landscape, the quality of soils, bodies of water, biotopes, vegetation features. The utilization of the land, i.e. forest, agriculture, estates, areas for supply and disposal, traffic routes…. A lot of work is waiting for us.

Determining the facts
At first we analyse the data that have already been submitted to the various authorities. In addition we evaluate aerial photographs. Now we put on our wellies and tuck our laptops under our arms: inspection on site. We check the information we have. An add what may have been missing. We proceed with the utmost care because the more exact the stock-taking, the more expressive the evaluation will be. From the collected information we draw up individual thematic maps where the respective protected objects (soil, water, climate, landscape, biotopes) are worked out and presented in a clear way. Now, ways of agricultural utilization, natural resources, flood areas, water quality, properties of the air and climatic conditions are becoming clear. The picture of the landscape is taking shape. In addition we draw up maps for the species and biotope potential as well as for the landscape and its recreational suitability.

How do the elements of the picture behave to each other?
HPC always confronts the requirements to the use to the interests of nature and landscape and uncovers thus use conflicts. We represent these on separate maps. Now we can think over it how one solves the conflicts. On basis of our suggestions the municipality proves Tapfheim of populated areas, trade areas and the route of the by-pass. The landscape plan showed, what is in it: Important information, which creates a right-safe basis for the consideration of different interests. The municipality Tapfheim avoids cost-intensive planning faults. The conversion of planning begins. The municipality can develop now.