UNDERSTANDING LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY POWER IN FLORIDA

摘要

Although power has been a central topic in planning discussions, the literature still lacks empirical research exploring how and why local planning agencies could have different levels of power over decision making in states adopting growth-management programs. Previous research suggested technical and institutional capacity as factors empowering local planning agencies. This paper reexamines effects of technical and institutional capacity and investigates other factors affecting local planning agency power in Florida. To achieve these goals, multiple regression analyses were conducted. The dependent variable was levels of local planning agency power, while the independent variables were agency technical and institutional capacity, location in a charteron-charter county, municipality per capita income and population size, and existence of other agencies performing planning functions. A Delphi study was conducted to operationalize the dependent and independent variables. Then, local planning agencies were surveyed. Agreeing with previous studies, institutional capacity explains partial variations in levels of local planning agency power. However, there is no statistical evidence of effects of technical capacity on agency power for this group of agencies at this time. In small communities, variations in levels of agency power are explained partially by institutional capacity, municipality population size and per capita income, location in a charteron-charter county, and existence of other agencies responsible for approving/denying development applications. In large municipalities, population size and location in a charteron-charter county contribute to variations in agency power levels. This research fills a gap in the literature, which improves our understanding of local planning agency power and helps us design more effective planning policies.