Designation of land readjustment and redevelopment areas is the designation of areas where specific planning projects, for example land readjustment, urban redevelopment, etc, will be carried out. The prefecture governor or a city, town or village makes the decision. It is open to public inspection for two weeks, and residents and those concerned are given an opportunity of presenting a written opinion. Thereafter, the final decision is made through deliberation by a local council for the urban planning. When these areas are designated, building restrictions are enforced. After the earthquake, building restrictions according to Section 84 of the Building Standards Law, mainly in districts covered by urban planning projects, were enforced on February 1 in Kobe city and Nishinomiya city and on February 9 in Ashiya city, Takarazuka city and Hokutan-cho. In Kobe city, urban planning on land readjustment projects (in 6 districts, approximately 125 ha.) and urban redevelopment projects (in 2 districts, approximately 26 ha.) was decided on the 17th of March. There was a great deal of controversy over this decision. For example, a movement of local residents against this decision was started, and some districts proposed their own planning against the planning framed by the self-governing body.
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