Mid-term program in urban peripheral: A case study of Kalateh Yavari village in Bojnord Country

1. Introduction
Today, studies in the field of urban peripheral have become one of the most important topics in regional, urban, and rural planning. Urban peripheral refers to the space surrounding cities, whose demographic, economic, physical, and functional characteristics vary depending on the socio-economic systems and the level of development related to the cities (Afrakhteh, 2020). urban peripherals are one of the increasing outcomes of urbanization (Hajipour, 2020). Residents of these spaces typically work in the city but live in villages near the city. Over time, this factor has led to many negative changes in the rural economy. Villages, which were once production-based areas with a predominantly agricultural focus, have transformed into identity-less hubs that consume urban resources and ultimately become dependent on the city's economic structure (Mekaniky et al., 2022).Therefore, the influence of cities on the development of rural and surrounding areas is now an undeniable and accepted reality. The development of urban peripheral, considering the capacity and potential of these regions, has historically taken place continuously and across generations in the form of indigenous knowledge shared among people and with their participation. However, given the changes and contemporary needs of society, traditional development activities and outdated tools have hindered the sustainable growth and development of urban peripheral. This has led to migration to cities to meet basic living needs, resulting in urban marginalization and an increase in social problems.Thus, it is essential to conduct studies, plan effectively, raise awareness, provide specialized training, promote cultural development, facilitate processes, produce goods, and take other measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of urban peripheral. In this regard, this research, titled »Developing a Five-Year Plan for the Village Administration of Kalateh Yavari« aims to highlight and clarify the role of strategic plans in institutionalizing the planning system in local management. It seeks to empower local communities, strengthen their role in the village development process, engage people in decision-making within local management, prevent unplanned actions, organize the activities of the village administration, identify the issues, challenges, capacities, and potentials of the village, prioritize appropriate actions for the village administration, enhance community participation, and improve interactions between the council, the village administration, and the people. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of adhering to higher-level documents and planning for the optimal use of the village budget to prevent financial resource wastage. The significance of this issue in Bojnord County stems from the fact that, following the political divisions of 2004, the city of Bojnord was selected as the capital of North Khorasan Province. Since then, urbanization in Bojnord has increased uncontrollably. A large population from nearby and distant cities and villages migrated to Bojnord, and several villages, such as Bagharkhan and Maleksh, were integrated into the city. This phenomenon has led to numerous problems in Bojnord and its urban peripheral, including spatial imbalance, loss of agricultural land and reduced rural production, intensified marginalization and informal settlements, environmental issues, land speculation and rising housing prices, a lack of facilities and services, and more.
 

Methodology

This research is applied in its objective, as the findings, presented in the form of strategies, plans, and projects, are made available to the village administration, governmental organizations, and public institutions to contribute to the comprehensive development of the village. In terms of its nature and methodology, this study is descriptive-analytical. In other words, information is first collected and described using various methods, and then, considering the current situation, the data and information are analyzed. For data collection, the research utilized documentary and library methods, interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, and direct observation and field surveys. For data analysis, qualitative methods were employed, while in the stage of presenting visions and strategies, strategic planning methods such as SWOT and QSPM were used. The target population consists of all village residents. Additionally, given the necessity of involving stakeholders in the village, a diverse range of groups—including knowledgeable and informed villagers, experts, the village administration, and the village council—were included as the focus group for the study.
 

Findings

Considering higher-level documents, as well as survey studies and the opinions of local experts, the vision statement for the village of Kalateh Yavari is as follows: »Kalateh Yavari, in the horizon of the plan, is a livable village with high quality in physical, economic, social, and environmental indicators«. To achieve this vision, based on fieldwork and interviews with residents, elites, and trusted individuals, it was determined that the village's threats and weaknesses outweigh its opportunities and strengths. Therefore, a defensive strategy must be employed. According to the results of the SWOT and QSPM models, the most important strategies for the development of this village are, in order:

Establishing and upgrading services, infrastructure, and essential facilities for the village.
Developing the village's industrial and workshop sectors.
Reviewing and implementing the second phase of the rural plan.
Improving the connectivity to Bojnord city and surrounding villages.
Enhancing the village's safety level.
Upgrading the village's social and cultural indicators of the village.

 

Discussion and Conclusion

The studies and findings of this research align with the results of the employment plans for the villages of Bojnord County and the regional planning project for North Khorasan Province. According to this research and the mentioned plans, urban peripheral face several major challenges, the most significant being rapid population growth, lack of services, and employment issues. Kalateh Yavari village, located near the city of Bojnord, is no exception to this rule and is experiencing rapid population growth. While this growth could present an opportunity for development, unfortunately, as the findings of this study indicate, the village faces numerous weaknesses—particularly a lack of services—and multiple threats. Consequently, a defensive strategy must be adopted to define strategies, actions, and implement projects aimed at sustainable development, ensuring that the village does not become an unstable environment resembling an informal settlement or a mere dormitory in the future. The integrated development of cities and urban peripheral, focusing on changes in socio-economic systems, restructuring management frameworks, improving livelihoods, and overall sustainable urban area development, is the primary goal of regional, urban, and rural planners. Therefore, achieving integrated urban area development requires comprehensive programs that consider all aspects, features, and needs of the city and urban peripheral simultaneously. Planning and developing urban peripheral villages is a win-win approach. On the one hand, it ensures the planned development of the village, and on the other hand, it addresses the needs of the central city, potentially accommodating surplus population in a pre-planned manner if necessary.