Strategic Planning Utilizing the 15-Minute City Approach (Case Study: Hamidiyan Neighborhood, Rasht City)

Ahmadpour Shemami, Sara; Pasha, Ali; Bornafar, Mahdi; Mohammadpour, Saber

Strategic Planning Utilizing the 15-Minute City Approach (Case Study: Hamidiyan Neighborhood, Rasht City)

Document Type : Origional Article

Authors

Sara Ahmadpour Shemami ¹ ^¶

Ali Pasha ²

Mahdi Bornafar ³

Saber Mohammadpour ⁴

¹ M.Sc. Student in Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

² MSc in Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Art, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

³ Assistant Prof., Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

⁴ Associate Prof., Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: Increasing population density in urban areas and the rising concerns regarding sustainability and public health have encouraged residents to adopt active mobility patterns. In this context, the concept of the 15-minute city has emerged as a modern urban model aiming to ensure that residents can access essential daily needs (such as work, education, healthcare, and recreation) within a maximum 15-minute distance using non-motorized modes.
Methodology: This applied research was conducted with a descriptive–analytical approach in the Hamidian neighborhood of Rasht. Data were collected through library studies, field observations, maps, satellite images, and upper-level planning documents. Strategies for realizing the 15-minute city were formulated using the SWOT technique and prioritized through the QSPM matrix.
Findings and Conclusion: The findings indicate that the most fundamental requirement for steering the Hamidian neighborhood toward a 15-minute city is improving accessibility and mobility systems. The top three strategies holding the highest priority directly relate to enhancing safe and efficient non-motorized mobility (walking, cycling, and public transport), emphasizing that without adequate transport infrastructure, other objectives of the 15-minute city cannot be achieved. Based on the QSPM scoring, “the quality of pedestrian pathways and pedestrian safety” was identified as the key factor with the highest score, while “smart technologies and tourism development” were recognized as the lowest-priority factor under the neighborhood’s current conditions. Despite challenges such as limited public spaces and weak transport systems, the neighborhood possesses notable potentials, including its suitable connectivity and the presence of the Einak Lagoon. Priority strategies include improving the transport network, enhancing pedestrian pathways, and developing non-motorized access to services and green spaces. Ultimately, the successful implementation of this model requires collaboration among management institutions, citizen participation, and the adoption of smart technologies.

Keywords

Strategic planning

15-minute city

Rasht city

Hamidian neighborhood

Subjects

Urban Planning

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