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West Virginia University

Zoned out: Conflict and perceived threat in a rural-urban fringe area

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Zoning and other restrictive land use policies are quite common in the United States and are frequently enacted as a response to the rapid growth and change within a city or county. Past research on zoning has primarily examined the positive and negative consequences of zoning ordinances, often focusing the analysis on neighborhood change. This study inductively examines the conflict that emerged in one county when new zoning ordinances were proposed through an in-depth analysis of nearly 300 newspaper forums, observations of three public hearings, and interviews with key informants. Concerned with activists on both sides of the zoning issue, this study explores reasons for support and opposition to zoning in rural-urban fringe county. Findings illustrate how perceived threat is associated with what individuals in the community recognize the goals and consequences of zoning policy to be. Implications of the findings and future research are also discussed.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MA
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Sociology and Anthropology
Year dc:date.available
2009

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Chambers, Jennifer
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Corey Colyer.
  • Melissa Latimer
  • Jennifer Steele

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1764

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
West Virginia University
Base URL
researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Chambers, Jennifer. Zoned out: Conflict and perceived threat in a rural-urban fringe area. Thesis thesis, 2009. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.761