Planning and competing interests: testing the mediating influence of planning capacity on smart growth policy adoption

    Authors

    C. V. Hawkins

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Environ. Plan. Manag.

    Keywords

    planning capacity; local interest groups; smart growth policy; local; institutions; LAND-USE REGULATION; WATERSHED PARTNERSHIPS; MANAGEMENT; INSTITUTIONS; GOVERNANCE; CONSERVATION; PLANNERS; URBAN; PLANS; CITY; Environmental Studies

    Abstract

    Land use policy can generate substantial conflict between pro-growth and slow-growth interests. Based on the collaborative planning model, one of the many roles of the professional planner is to mediate conflict and generate support among fragmented interests in policy aimed at mitigating the effects from sprawl. The analysis uses original data collected from cities and towns in the state of Massachusetts. This study empirically tests the effect a divergence between local interest groups in the support for planning efforts has on the adoption of smart growth policy. Methodologically, interaction terms are used to test the hypothesis that local planning capacity, in the form of professional planning staff and formal planning mechanisms, mediates this divergence. The results provide insight into how communities can overcome the challenges of interest group divergence in planning for 'smarter' growth and more sustainable environmental land use practices.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

    Volume

    57

    Issue/Number

    11

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1683

    Last Page

    1703

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000342310400005

    ISSN

    0964-0568

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