Analyzing and Assessing the Elements of Urban Development Strategy in Small Cities; A Case Study of Galougah, Mazandaran

A city’s long-term future vision is created through the process of creating an urban development strategy, upon which executive plans are created. The main objective of urban development strategy is to increase economic competitiveness, but it also addresses issues related to the environment, finances, infrastructure, urban design, and poverty alleviation. The aim of this research is to analyze and evaluate various aspects of the development strategy in Galougah city in order to gain a better understanding of the situation there. The study outlines the comprehensive urban plan that was implemented in 2010, as well as a detailed tourism plan for the Galougah Sea that was developed in 2003. However, the city’s master plan has failed to effectively guide urban development and meet the needs of the current population. The planning process does not involve the urban beneficiaries, and they lack knowledge about how decision-makers make decisions regarding urban challenges. Urban challenges, such as services, environmental problems like the urban sewage system, specific problems of inefficient urban fabrics, and physical problems like the transportation network, sidewalks, and road network lighting, have not been properly identified due to a lack of awareness and effective two-way communication between various city managers. To support this research, the implementation of an urban development strategy plan in Galougah city can be beneficial. This is due to the fact that the issues with urban management not only affect the city but also impact other urban stakeholders, such as the economy, sustainable urban employment, and seasonal migrations. By considering these issues, along with the structural limitations of traditional plans and the distinct conditions of Galougah city, an urban development strategy plan could provide a more comprehensive approach to addressing the city’s challenges.

This research is both descriptive and analytical in nature and aims to be practical. The data was collected through surveys and documentary methods. The researcher developed a questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale as the research tool. The statistical population of this study includes experts in urban issues and residents of Galougah city. In order to gather information, documentary, library, and survey methods were employed. Before being distributed to the statistical population, the prepared questionnaire underwent content validity by being tested with individuals who had opinions on this issue, which helped to ensure its dependability. Cochran’s methodology was followed and employed by a simple random sampling technique to distribute 355 questionnaires to heads-of-household, ensuring that they were representative of the city. A random selection technique was used for each questionnaire. A snowball sampling approach was used to identify a group of specialists, and ultimately, 22 experts were included in the study. To analyze the data, descriptive analysis techniques such as frequency percentage, mean, standard deviation, and variance were employed. Inferential tests in SPSS, including the one-sample t-test, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), LSD post hoc test, and Pearson correlation, were also used.

The results of this study demonstrate that Galougah is dealing with issues, all of which have resulted in a decline in the city’s quality of urban life. The mandatory components of the urban development strategy can be strengthened in order to improve the city’s livability. According to the statistical tests conducted, the research findings showed that the relevant indicators for the residents and experts of Galougah City are below average. The dimension of urban livability was found to be weaker than other dimensions among the average indicators for residents, while the dimension of urban competitiveness ranked second. The following scenario involves urban governance and banking. Urban specialists assess these dimensions in the same context. The statistically significant difference observed between the two study groups’ viewpoints is due to the lower average of the analyzed dimensions by the experts, despite their alignment with the residents’ perspectives. This is because experts are more involved in practical and unbiased city issues, such as competition and government, which may have influenced their evaluations.

According to the test results, Galougah City is not in an acceptable state for city development strategies, and there is a greater need than ever to prepare and implement the city development plan. Due to the poor and intolerable situation in Galougah city, improving and applying livability approaches appears important. The study of sustainable development goals in cities is based on governance, and proper observance and use of indicators can increase public confidence in institutions of urban management. The assessment and analysis conducted in this research can serve as the framework for assessing various concerns for the mentioned program. In general, the results of this research demonstrate the importance of developing an urban development strategy plan. The research results have the potential to improve our understanding of various challenges faced by citizens and urban management. These findings can be used by managers, planners, and policymakers to develop a city development strategy plan that addresses the city’s current situation and helps to solve its problems in a logical manner.