The social, economic and environmental zone is constantly changing in terms of factors aimed at improving the quality of life, economic and technological development of the city while at the same time rational use of resources of the natural environment. Change as a dynamic factor is an impulse for creating new behaviors of residents and interactions between them and public and private sector entities. The article attempts to systematize selected contemporary concepts shaping the city, emphasizing the coherence of their assumptions and the scope of the issues discussed. Looking for features that characterize the city, which balance the needs and expectations of its users.

This research examines the relationship between urban planning and environmental conditions. As urb-anisation processes increase the density of the built-up tissue of cities, this process puts a lot of pressure on land and natural resources such as rivers and soil. This article aims to verify whether environmental risks (e.g. flooding) and land protection from them is sufficiently addressed in the examined spatial policies and strategies.
This problem can be observed in the Powiśle district of Warsaw where buildings are constructed in the proximity of the unregulated Vistula River and that is why there is the direct risk of flooding. It is done despite the lack of legally binding Master plans which would consider the natural risk.
The literature research on the Municipality-led spatial planning policies and documents was completed with qualitative interviews with key actors in this process (planners: the authors of Master plans under construction, regarding the area of Powiśle South and North). Main designers and team members were asked about the priorities of these plans as well as their dynamics (taking more than ten years to establish those plans).
An environmental analysis was conducted in the GIS mapping system of many databases. The comparison of both aspects of current development, formal urban planning and environmental protection was made in an interdisciplinary approach. The study presents an analysis of the situation for urban planning along with flood maps and other environmental conditions. The results show the lack of necessary alignment of environmental issues with the planning documentation and strategies.