Keywords

participation, planning, electoral districts, spatial analysis

Abstract

This mixed-methods case study on Osceola County, Florida examines how participatory barriers shape planning outcomes for Latino communities within single member district systems. Demographic transformation has shaped Osceola into one of three Hispanic/Latino majority counties. For Latinos, unique barriers to civic access exist, with the potential for exclusion in planning processes. The research bridges participatory planning theory with theories supporting single-member district electoral representation by evaluating whether district-level governance mitigates inequities where civic engagement is constrained. Methods integrate GIS-based spatial analysis with an institutional review of district-level actions to assess relationships between Hispanic civic accessibility and planning equity. Two composite indices are developed, Hispanic Civic Accessibility (HCAI) and Spatial Planning Equity (SPEI), and are compared to the findings of a qualitative review of SPEI-relevant district actions. Findings indicate that participatory inaccessibility and planning disparities do not consistently align, and that district-level actions may only partially address areas of greatest need. They suggest that while single member districts improve descriptive representation, they may not uniformly translate into significant spatial outcomes, as institutional priorities shaped by broader development pressures and pre-existing spatial morphologies limit action capacity. This underscores the importance of integrating accessibility within institutional design to drive positive outcomes in communities facing rapid demographic growth.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Stephens, Daniel

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

School of Public Administration

Thesis Discipline

Public Administration

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

UCF Downtown

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