Comparative approaches in drafting of the Municipal Development Plans

Abstract

Spatial Planning of Kosovo, law no. 04/L174 requires from the municipalities drafting of their strategic documents, such as: - Municipal Development Plan/MDP - Zoning Map and - Detailed Regulatory Plans (not- mandatory). This paper aims to present two different approaches of MDP1 examples preparations: 1. “In-house” approach, example of Junik Municipality, and 2. Outsourcing approach, example of Rahovec Municipality Junik Municipality (June 2009) started its preparations for drafting of the MDP with "In-house” approach, being in this way the first municipality of Kosovo to use this methodology, whereas other municipalities of Kosovo used their external outsourcing, among them also the Rahovec Municipality. As a result of a two (2) year work and as the first document drafted "In - house ", having also the Environmental Impact Assessment-EIA included within, this document was completed and approved by the Municipal Assembly of Junik and by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) on October 2011. In contrast, Rahovec Municipality including other Kosovo municipalities, in drafting of their own MDP-s, used external companies/consultants through outsourcing methodology (through tendering). While "In-house" approach of this strategic municipality document explains the process, the required activities with their results of compilation, creating in this way a sense of ownership by "learning by doing" methodology, the example of Rahovec Municipality with its outsourcing approach, implicates high cost expenses of municipal budget, decrease the sense of ownership, and it has its own difficulties in further implementation of the plan as well.