Between plan and project : identifying gaps in plan implementation through development projects in Santa Monica and Newton

This thesis explores the relationship between plans and their implementation through development projects. Specifically, it asks: Do local plans that specify priority sites for development lead to the approvals of those projects? To answer this question, I look at the recent planning initiatives and their associated priority development projects in two cities - Santa Monica's Land Use and Transportation Element (LUCE) and Bergamot Transit Village project, and Newton's Comprehensive Plan and Austin Street project. Specifically, I look at the permitting process of each project to determine if the plans had any role in facilitating project approvals. I conclude that while plans play an important role in defining community priorities, they have a limited ability to facilitate project approvals. Instead, I find that each city's specific legal framework around land use decisions, including state laws on voter referendum and local policy on special permits, play a much more definitive role. In light of underlying legal and political undertones around development, I offer two suggestions to cities aiming to improve plan implementation. First, facilitate direct ideation from community members through the appointment of citizen task-forces that promote citizen leadership and co-learning around community concerns, while maintaining traditional public hearings as a platform for structured support and dissent. Second, build up and maintain confidence in this enhanced task-force process by insulating carefully-vetted outcomes from outright repeal. Together, these recommendations encourage a more politically-strategic and engaged approach to planning, suggesting that plan implementation will occur best when legal mechanisms and community political will align with the vision set forth in a city's best laid plans.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Chung, Esther, M.C.P. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• James Buckley.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/105071

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/105071