CHANGE OF URBANIZATION TERRITORIES IN LITHUANIAN SEASIDE MUNICIPALITIES

Abstract

One of the most important goals of territorial planning is the compactness of residential areas and the conistency of the whole. To achieve this goal, one of the possible actions is monitoring the urbanization process and forecasting the predictions. Lithuanian seaside municipalities stand out as attractive points rich in the country's recreational resources. These territories are characterized by a strong influence of urbanization, especially in territories that are not yet adjusted to this process. Therefore, to maintain the order provided in the territorial planning documents, it is appropriate to follow the course of the urbanization process of these territories and determine its perspective. The article analyzes the relationship between the urbanization process and the natural environment and the criteria analysis to determine the influence of the urbanization process on the municipalities of Klaipėda, Kretinga and Šilutė districts. The municipality of Klaipėda district has an advantage to urbanize due to the intensively increasing area of the built-up area, which is determined by the economic criteria of urbanization. The district municipality of Kretinga is characterized as having no real advantage or weakness in terms of urbanization. In the municipality of Šilutė district, the smallest change of territory and the possibility of urbanization due to the great influence of environmental criteria have been determined.