English Abstract

In the wake of the shortcomings of traditional physical planning models in managing urban complexities, the City Development Strategy (CDS) approach has emerged as a novel paradigm for achieving sustainability and enhancing governance. The present study aims to rethink Hamedan's planning system and articulate a strategic vision for the city toward the horizon year 1424 (2045); a city rich in potentials yet confronted with challenges such as unbalanced spatial development, planning rigidity, and institutional disconnects. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research draws on document analysis, in-depth interviews with experts, and the Delphi technique over three rounds (with a Kendall's coefficient of concordance of 0.74). The findings culminated in the formulation of an optimal vision centered on the "university-tourism city" model, which integrates Hamedan's competitive advantages with the four core pillars of CDS. The results indicate that realizing this vision requires: 1) enhancing competitiveness through knowledge-based economy and health tourism; 2) improving livability via historic fabric revitalization and eco-urban patterns; 3) bolstering financial sustainability through bankable projects and private investment attraction; and 4) establishing responsive governance to manage discursive conflicts. The study's innovations manifest at three levels: indigenous CDS modeling, identification of institutional disconnects via agonistic analysis, and provision of an operational framework for transitioning from static comprehensive plans to dynamic strategic management. This strategic document, by pinpointing ecological and institutional risks, offers a roadmap for transforming Hamedan's symbolic capitals into absolute economic and social advantages.