Investigate and Evaluate Citizens' Participation in Urban Plans and Present an Optimal Model (Case Study: Bonab)

In Iran, although the term “participation” in the form of cooperation and collaboration has a long history, this phenomenon in its new concept has not yet been institutionalized in the country. With a review of the considerations made in citizen participation in the development of urban plans in Iran, we can say that most of the experiences in the process of preparation and implementation of plans have followed a top-down approach regardless of life and behavioral patterns and participation of residents. The present paper attempts to explain the importance of the role of citizens who are vital elements in the development of urban plans to provide solutions to enhance their participation in the management, decision-making process, investment of urban plan development in order to achieve a participatory development approach. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the patterns of citizen participation in Bonab and provide an optimal model. The present study is a descriptive survey and analytical study that was conducted via field studies (questionnaire) and the distribution of the questionnaire to 382 among all residents was performed using simple random sampling. Also, the data were analyzed using SPSS statistical analysis (Spearman correlation test). The results show that the level of participation of the people of Bonab at a low level and the advisory model (the third level of the seven standard levels of participation) has been proposed as a sample model and there is a long way to reach the 7th level (self-motivated participation), which is the highest and best level of participation. In addition, there is no positive and significant relationship between the variables of age, gender of citizens, the level of social participation in social institutions, realism, citizens 'attitudes toward the problems of the projects and citizens' participation in urban development projects. There is a significant, low and partial relationship between the place of birth, unity, Bonab city plans, the citizens 'opinions about the residents of the neighborhood, the citizens' residence history and the urban development plans variables.