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Factors Shaping Local Land Use Decisions

Citizen Planners' Perceptions and Challenges

University of Michigan

Stephen Kaplan

University of Michigan

Maureen E. Austin

Alaska Pacific University

Local land use decisions are in the hands of thousands of individuals who lack formal training in planning. The study focuses on three domains of experience that might affect how township planning officials view their tasks and perceive the impacts of planning decisions. Interviews and surveys were conducted in two adjacent Michigan counties, which have had substantially different growth patterns. The perception of environmental impacts was found to be strongly related to these county-level experiences. By contrast, the population density of the respondents' township was related to the use of different forms of information and visualization approaches. Experience gained through years of service was related to confidence and clarity with the planning process, though not with the other issues examined. Reliance on these forms of experience, unfortunately, is far too slow and unreliable to address the long-term consequences of land use decisions. We discuss the need for tools that enhance gaining such a bigger picture.

Key Words: local planning • expertise • perception • sprawl • visualization

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