Smart Growth: Trend of Low Density Residential Growth in Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This article have purposes to compare land management of low-density residence according to the Town Planning Act, B.E. 2532 (1989), 2542 (1999), and 2560 (2017) with urban growth in term of population and to propose guidelines for town planning based on smart growth concepts. These concepts focus on developing the original city center, controlling the city expansion, building a compact city, promoting high density and blended use of land, and conserving green and agricultural areas to reduce the cost of public services and public utilities. This study was blended research investigating secondary data of demographic statistics and physical data. The secondary data for analysis included land use plans in Khon Kaen Province in 1989, 1999, and 2017, and population statistics in 1997, 2007, and 2018.

             For the land management of low-density residence in Khon Kaen Province, it was found that
the growth rate has been higher every year when the land use plan is updated. The expansion mainly reaches the North and the West of the city of Khon Kaen.  Changes were found in the rural and agricultural land use
of 2.63 and 5.75 square kilometers. These changes were inconsistent with the concepts of smart growth. Guidelines for town planning based on smart growth concepts such as promoting high density, blended use of land, and conserving green and agricultural areas in the suburb are proposed in this study.