Modernization of Ponta Grossa's Urban Area: Strategic Action by IPLAN by Rafael Mansani

The IPLAN – Institute of Research and Urban Planning of Ponta Grossa – has been conducting a process of modernization of the city’s urban policies, with actions aimed at updating the legislation, improving territorial planning, simplifying processes and creating instruments capable of keeping up with the pace of growth of the city. In recent years, we have strengthened the role of the Institute as a planning body, with a very clear objective: a more organized, more accessible, more sustainable city and more prepared to receive new investments.

Revision of urban laws. The updating of the norms that make up the Plano Diretor Municipal seeks to adapt the legislation to the new urban reality of Ponta Grossa. Among the main advances are the expansion of areas of mixed use, the updating of the economic activities allowed, the incentive to technology, innovation and services, and the revision of constructive parameters such as utilization coefficient, occupancy rate, height of the buildings, retreats and permeability of the soil. The goal is clearer, more modern legislation and more aligned with the urban development that the city already lives.

Modernization of the parcel of land. The current proposals seek to improve the procedures for allotments, condominiums and new developments, bringing more technical security, updated rules and balance between real estate development and urban quality.

Urban Instruments. We have been working on improving instruments such as the Transfer of the Right to Build, allowing urban growth to generate collective benefits — investments in infrastructure and public interest actions — rather than just built density.

Walking Manual — CAMINHA PG. An unprecedented initiative to guide the construction and reform of the city’s public promenades, with the aim of improving accessibility, guaranteeing safety for pedestrians, standardizing urban solutions and guiding residents, traders, professionals and entrepreneurs. The manual takes into account the characteristics of the Ponta Grossa, including its topography, to produce more connected, functional and accessible sidewalks.

Acceleration of building permit processes. We also participate in the modernization of work approval, focusing on reducing red tape and increasing administrative efficiency – through the digitization of processes, the improvement of internal flows, greater integration between municipal sectors and more efficient document analysis, which translates into more legal security for professionals and entrepreneurs.

Modernization of housing and regularization of real estate. We implement measures to accelerate the issuance of documents related to the completion and regularization of works, with simplification of procedures, integration of information, reduction of administrative steps and more agile models for the issuance of Habite-se. They are measures that give more legal certainty to regular properties and help the city to organize its built heritage.

Municipal plans of urban planning. We have updated and elaborated territorial management instruments that guide the growth of the municipality – among them, the Affordable Routes, the Walkability and the Cycling Plan – always with a focus on sustainable land use, integration between public policies and improvement of urban infrastructure.

Urban revitalization projects. We elaborate intervention proposals that recover idle urban spaces, value the heritage and bring the population back to areas today underutilized – urban park projects, revitalization of the central area, tactical urbanism and standardization of urban furniture, with direct impact on economic and social development and cultural preservation of the city.

Cadastral base and certificates. The implementation of the SITUP and the strengthening of the municipal cadastral base integrate and update territorial information that subsidize the planning and public decision-making. In the same vein, the modernization of the issuance of certificates, now more digital, reduces bureaucracy, increases transparency and improves the care of citizens.

The set of these actions represents a change of model: a city with updated legislation, more efficient processes, better public spaces and future-oriented planning. The revision of urban laws, the CAMINHA PG Pavement Manual, the modernization of the permitting, habitation and issuance of certificates, and the actions of regularization and urban revitalization represent a new stage of the planning of Ponta Grossa – showing that it is possible to change in a short time, with serious, technical and focused management. With the strategic action of IPLAN, based on technical planning, permanent dialogue with entities, professionals and society, and encouragement to economic development with urban responsibility, Ponta Grossa continues to build a city that grows with organization, accessibility, legal security and quality of life.

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Rafael Mansani's article for the book: "PONTA GROSSA: From the Trophers' Route to the Tracks of Innovation"

Check out the other articles of the book here!