Coastal land use planning: A case study of Kordonboyu (Canakkale)

Turkey is bordered on three sides by the sea and has a long coastline. Canakkale is one of the most important cities of Turkey, with its natural, cultural, and historical characteristics. With a 750-kilometer-long coastline and the Dardanelles, one of the most important waterways of the world, this part of the country has historically been an attractive area. The Kordonboyu coastal area, ca. 2 kilometers long, is the most important attraction in the city. Located east of the Dardanelles, the study area has always been a center of interest. The aim of this investigation was to determine the negative effects of settlement, industry, trade, or similar activities associated with a rapid increase in city population on the coastal structure of Canakkale and to provide suggestions for rearrangement studies with sustainable planning approaches. The study was carried out in two stages by collecting and analyzing data. In this study, the factors that affect planning in the city (natural factors, demographic structure of the population, socioeconomic structure) have been inspected. Current land uses in the Kordonboyu coastal area and environs have been analyzed. Also, to determine the inclinations of the people of Qanakkale toward current land use of the research area, a questionnaire was made. Chi square analysis showed that the relationships between age groups and other parameters were significant (p < 0.05). The data taken from the questionnaires show that the Qanakkale community is concerned with land use and has a desire to live in a modern and well-arranged city. For this reason, the local administrations that are in a position to make decisions on land use policy should conduct studies that will take ecological criteria into account.