Public participation and citizen participation in current valencian urbanism

Abstract

[EN] To talk about participation in urban planning is to discuss not only its concept, but also its relationship with the models of Democracy, the meanings of Governance and the governance of the territory. From the analysis of the Law of Territorial Planning, and Urbanism and Landscape (LOTUP, 2014) of the Valencian Community, Spain, and its modifications of 2019, two types of participation, public participation and citizen participation are derived. These are different processes and levels of participation in urban planning and planning, since they have different ends, dimensions and participating agents. In addition, the hierarchical position that the Law establishes between them is significant, subordinating the second one to the results of the first one. This separation and hierarchy invites us to reflect on the concepts of Democracy and Governance that are applied in the development of municipal urban planning instruments. Citizen participation remains one of the workhorses.