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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
What Is The Role Of Public Participation In Planning Development Applications For Infill And Intensification: Evidence From Cambridge, Kitchener And Waterloo, Ontario, Deanne Friess
MPA Major Research Papers
The Ontario Planning Act makes public participation a requirement for most municipal planning decision. The intent of the legislated public process is to create a transparent public participatory process. However, the potential impact of the public participation is limited for certain types of applications as approvals are dependent on existing municipal planning policy and provincial direction. The province directs a large portion of new growth be accommodated through infill and intensification. Local municipalities apply the provincial direction in policies, plans, guidelines and regulations which encourage infill and intensification through land use permissions. Planning documents recognize that infill development protects agricultural …
Quality Strategic Planning – Are We There? A Comparative Evaluation Of The Current State Of Strategic Planning With Ontario’S Smaller Municipalities, Mike Macauley
MPA Major Research Papers
Strategic planning for municipalities is a common undertaking to identify goals and objectives to improve the quality of life of their residents. Research has shown that strategic planning offers many benefits to organizations, and allows them to strategically identify, implement and achieve top priorities. The strategic plan itself is the product of the strategic planning process, though evaluating the final published plan often does not occur and a lack of academic research exists to understand if strategic planning is producing quality strategic plans.By evaluating strategic plans in Ontario using a plan quality framework designed from a newly published study (Evaluating …
Harmonizing Agricultural Growth And Nighttime Sky: Municipal Strategies For Mitigating Commercial Greenhouse-Related Light Pollution In Ontario, Canada, Adam Betteridge
Harmonizing Agricultural Growth And Nighttime Sky: Municipal Strategies For Mitigating Commercial Greenhouse-Related Light Pollution In Ontario, Canada, Adam Betteridge
MPA Major Research Papers
This comprehensive research investigates the intricate interplay between the thriving commercial greenhouse industry and the pressing concern of nocturnal light pollution in a focussed area of Ontario, Canada, and the Netherlands. The study addresses the multifaceted challenge of managing greenhouse-related light pollution, which emerges as an unintended consequence of employing supplementary lighting to extend growing seasons and enhance crop yields. The analysis of jurisdictional approaches reveals the complexities and the varied success achieved in addressing this issue.In Ontario, particularly in and near the County of Essex, the response to greenhouse-related light pollution has primarily been reactive, with municipalities passing light …
Opportunities And Challenges From Major Disasters Lessons Learned Of Long-Term Recovery Group Members, Eduardo E. Landaeta
Opportunities And Challenges From Major Disasters Lessons Learned Of Long-Term Recovery Group Members, Eduardo E. Landaeta
Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations
Natural hazards caused by the alteration of weather patterns expose populations at risk, with an outcome of economic loss, property damage, personal injury, and loss of life. The unpredictability of disasters is a topic of concern to most governments. Disaster policies need more attention in aligning mitigation opportunities with disaster housing recovery (DHR). The effect of flooding, which primarily impacts housing in coastal areas, is one of the most serious issues associated with natural hazard. Flooding has a variety of causes and implications, especially for vulnerable populations who are exposed to it. DHR is complex, involving the need for effective …
Our Streets: Increasing Equity In Active Transportation Planning Through Community Outreach, Jordan Hoy
Our Streets: Increasing Equity In Active Transportation Planning Through Community Outreach, Jordan Hoy
Master's Projects and Capstones
ABSTRACT Significant research has demonstrated that active transportation infrastructure is essential for the growth and livability of San Francisco: it increases access to economic opportunities, promotes overall improved public health, encourages mobility without contributing to roadway congestion, prevents traffic injuries and fatalities, and supports the sustainability goals of the city. Despite the fact that communities of color will benefit the most from active transportation infrastructure development, historical disenfranchisement in tandem with a lack of diverse representation within public participation contributes to an inequitable distribution of walking and biking investments throughout the city of San Francisco. While research shows that Black …
Monitoring & Evaluation Content In Municipal Official Plans: An Assessment Of Plan Quality & Implementation Actions, Owen Mccabe
Monitoring & Evaluation Content In Municipal Official Plans: An Assessment Of Plan Quality & Implementation Actions, Owen Mccabe
MPA Major Research Papers
Municipal official plans are important tools in the Province of Ontario’s land use planning system. As documents that guide how communities manage change, they are a central element of planning practice and important objects of research. Official plans are not static – they are updated regularly as part of a plan-making cycle that includes issue identification, policy development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. This research paper is focussed on the monitoring and evaluation aspect of the plan-making cycle, and specifically, the content in municipal official plans that addresses and guides these practices. It builds on the existing plan quality and …
Camp Quest Leader Perspectives On Virtual Summer Camps Options During Pandemics, Timothy James Cummings
Camp Quest Leader Perspectives On Virtual Summer Camps Options During Pandemics, Timothy James Cummings
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Summer overnight camping, a noteworthy childhood leadership growth opportunity, has suffered greatly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Camp Quest, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides federated support services and governance to 12 independent nationwide camping organizations, was forced to cancel all of its in-person sessions. Hence, they now face an existential crisis that perhaps virtual camping sessions (i.e., camping activities performed remotely and online using computer equipment) can mitigate. Accordingly, this generic qualitative professional administrative study sought to understand and describe the perspectives of the camping leaders related to their experiences with virtual camping so that their mission …
Inclusionary Zoning: Identifying Possible Legal Challenges Within Canada And How Best To Pre-Empt Them, Christina Pilatzkie
Inclusionary Zoning: Identifying Possible Legal Challenges Within Canada And How Best To Pre-Empt Them, Christina Pilatzkie
MPA Major Research Papers
The purpose of this research paper is to explore the legal issues that surround inclusionary zoning. More specifically, the question to be answered through this research is: How can Canadian municipalities shield themselves from legal challenges that may put inclusionary zoning policies at risk of being nullified? Through inductive research byway of qualitative content analysis of 16 American court cases, in which the legal challenges posed to inclusionary zoning ordinances are then extrapolated and applied to the Canadian context, the fundamental legal issues pertinent to Canadian municipalities become illuminated. What has been observed is that there have been a number …
Community Improvement Plans: An Analysis Of Content And Outcomes Of Community Improvement Plans In Ontario, Paul Pirri
Community Improvement Plans: An Analysis Of Content And Outcomes Of Community Improvement Plans In Ontario, Paul Pirri
MPA Major Research Papers
Community Improvement Plans are an often used, but seldom studied economic development and planning tool used to spur economic growth within an economically depressed area. But are they effective? This paper answers two questions concerning Community Improvement Plans. First, “How are Community Improvement Plans used in the Province of Ontario?”; and second, “Is the execution of these plans resulting in greater economic prosperity for the communities that have enacted them?”. This work is undertaken by reviewing the content of 202 Community Improvement Plans across the Province of Ontario. Regression tests on municipal assessments from 2001-2018 to determine what effect the …
Stakeholder Participation In Land-Use Planning Processes: An Assessment Of London’S Official Plan Review Process- ‘Rethink London’ Using The Collaborative Planning Framework, Elmond Bandauko
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper assesses the extent to which Rethink London exemplifies the tenets of collaborative planning. Rethink London was an innovative, community driven approach to planning whose main objective was to collaboratively engage the London community in creating a shared vision for urban development. The assessment was done using the process criteria focusing on issues such as equal opportunities and resources, inclusive representation, self design, independent facilitation, effective process management, voluntary participation and commitment, accountability, high quality information, purpose and incentives and clear ground rules. These factors were operationalised into concrete interview questions that were used to collect data through semi-structured …
Levelling The Urban Playing Field: How Municipalities Can Increase Leverage From Sports Franchises During Sports Venue Public-Private-Partnerships Negotiations, Bipin Dhillon
MPA Major Research Papers
The modern era of sports venue funding (post-1984) has shown a shift toward downtown revitalization arena projects as a remedy to the costly nature of sporting venue public-private-partnerships between municipalities and major league franchises. Sports franchises use their advantage to request attractive funding packages from desperate municipalities because of factors such as the supply and demand of franchises, municipal competition, and growth in consumption-based economic development. In response, the purpose of this report is to determine how municipalities can maximize leverage when trying to secure downtown sporting venues funded by public-private-partnerships. More specifically, which set of “leverage variables” under municipal …
Identification Of Factors For Successful Implementation Of The Incident Management System In Ontario Health Unit Emergency Management Programs, Dimitra Kasimos
Identification Of Factors For Successful Implementation Of The Incident Management System In Ontario Health Unit Emergency Management Programs, Dimitra Kasimos
MPA Major Research Papers
In 2008, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care released the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, which mandated local health units to develop emergency response plans consistent with the Incident Management System (IMS). The main purpose for implementing IMS was to provide a standardized approach to local and provincial government emergency response by providing a common framework. This paper identifies some of the factors present in health units that consistently implement IMS during incident and emergency response. A questionnaire was developed to collect data from 34 of the 35 health units in Ontario. The findings reveal that health units have …
The Effectiveness Of Using A Public-Private-Partnership Model For Urban Rail Transit: The Vancouver Case, Jie Bian
MPA Major Research Papers
In recent years, public-private partnerships, which are commonly referred to as PPPs or P3s, have become increasingly popular in Canada. Within the context of public transit, PPPs involve the private sector designing, building, financing, and operating the facilities. This paper analyzes the potential benefits of P3s based on an in-depth case study of public transportation investment in Greater Vancouver. It compares a DBFO (design-build-finance-operate) project and two non-DBFO projects in Metro Vancouver using the three variables of efficiency, fulfillment of original purposes, and procedural transparency. Ultimately, there were very few apparent merits of PPPs in the Vancouver case and the …
Municipal And Developer Success Rates At The Ontario Municipal Board: A London, Ontario Case Study, Dan Scheid
Municipal And Developer Success Rates At The Ontario Municipal Board: A London, Ontario Case Study, Dan Scheid
MPA Major Research Papers
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is a quasi-judicial tribunal with the authority to render decisions regarding land-use planning disputes. Using London, Ontario as a case study, this paper attempts to determine if municipalities or developers are generally more successful before the OMB when they are in direct opposition. The research seeks to highlight the underlying reasons why OMB makes its decisions, what it bases its decisions on, and any ramifications this may have for municipalities and developers. Through an extensive literature review, comparisons to other empirical studies of a similar nature, and a carefully selected research design, this paper provides …
The Role Of Local Government In China’S Urbanization: The Relationship Between Local Land Finance And Government-Led Urbanization, Ying Qiu
MPA Major Research Papers
Over the past several decades, dramatic growth and institutional reforms have taken place in the Chinese economy and society, which has been accompanied by accelerated urbanization. This paper examines the rationale behind the local government’s pursuit of urbanization and its deep relationship with fiscal reform, local land management, and the political performance evaluation system of local cadres by central officials. The findings reveal that, rather than being a natural consequence of economic development and a complex outcome of population urbanization and land urbanization, China’s urbanization in recent decades can be identified as a local government-led development deriving from the municipalities’ …
Collaborating For Synchronized Disaster Responses In The National Capital Region, Marilyn Peppers-Citizen
Collaborating For Synchronized Disaster Responses In The National Capital Region, Marilyn Peppers-Citizen
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In many urban areas, there are multiple and overlapping layers of governments, which can be problematic for purposes of emergency operations planning for a multiple jurisdiction disaster response. The purpose of this single case study of the National Capital Region was to understand (a) the emergency operations planning collaboration process and (b) how cross-sector collaboration results in synchronized regional disaster responses. Theories of competitive federalism and cross-sector collaboration served as the basis of this study. Research questions explored how organizations collaborate; their organizational structures, processes, and practices; and how relationships between them affect collaboration. Data were collected through reviews of …
The Impacts Of Land Use Growth Restrictions Upon Municipal Finances: A Comparative Study Of A Rural Municipality, An Urban Settlement Municipality, And A Primary Settlement Municipality, Douglas Herron
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines the impact of growth controls on the finances of local government. It focuses on the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the growth controls imposed through the Growth Plan upon the County of Simcoe and the local municipal governments within the boundaries of the County of Simcoe. The impact of growth controls is analyzed using a detailed analysis of three sample municipalities, which include the Township of Tiny, a rural municipality, the Town of Wasaga Beach, a high growth municipality, and the Town of Collingwood, a high growth municipality designated for population intensification. The findings …
Strategic Asset Management In The City Of Hamilton: An Analysis Of The Integration Of Strategic Planning And Management Elements Into Municipal Infrastructure Asset Management Programs, Brent Kittmer
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines which elements of strategic planning and strategic management are associated with improved organizational performance and how these elements are practically implemented in a municipality’s asset management program. The four key elements of strategic planning and management identified include: developing formal plans and using planning tools; setting goals and implementing performance measurement systems; internal and external stakeholder involvement; and linking the strategic process to the organization’s budget. A qualitative case study of the City of Hamilton’s asset management program was completed to describe how these strategic elements are practically implemented. The findings reveal that each of the key …
Development Permit System Policy Development In Ontario: Factors That Contribute To Implementation, Natalie Stopar
Development Permit System Policy Development In Ontario: Factors That Contribute To Implementation, Natalie Stopar
MPA Major Research Papers
In 2007, the Province of Ontario introduced a new planning tool called the Development Permit System (DPS) in order to increase the efficiency, certainty, and scope of the planning system. Despite these stated benefits, it has only been implemented in four municipalities. This paper examines the factors that could be limiting the implementation of the system in some municipalities, while encouraging implementation in others, using case studies conducted in five municipalities: the Township of Lake of Bays, the Township of Mulmur, the City of Kitchener, the Town of East Gwillimbury, and the City of Hamilton. Interviews were conducted with a …
Departmental Strategic Planning: Examining The Institutional And Organizational Linkages That Influence Departmental Strategic Planning Processes In Local Government, Adam Mobbs
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines the organizational and institutional factors that contribute to strategic planning efforts within the specific context of municipal government departments. It uses a mixed-methods approach consisting of a quantitative and qualitative analysis. The qualitative data was collected through interviews with department heads from two municipalities – Markham and Vaughan – that demonstrated enhanced strategic management processes, while the quantitative data was collected through a questionnaire that measured the perceptions of department heads employed by mid-sized Ontario municipalities. The findings reveal that each measure contained in the Strategic Management Processes Index demonstrates a relatively healthy level of management processes …
Landowner Behaviour In The Upper Thames And Grand River Watersheds: A Study Of Factors That May Explain The Conservation Behaviour Of Farmers, Jeffrey Brick
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines the factors that may explain why some farmers choose to remove conservation lands, while others choose to restore them. It uses a survey that was administered to rural landowners in the Upper Thames River and Grand River watersheds in Southwestern Ontario to collect information on landowner characteristics and behaviours, as well as literature reviews to provide insights into the value of conservation lands and the changing economic conditions in the study area. Eight independent variables that may explain the conservation behaviour of farmers were assessed. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between property size and the …
Organizational Behavioural Obstructions Between Planners And Implementing The Development Permit System, Joseph Nethery
Organizational Behavioural Obstructions Between Planners And Implementing The Development Permit System, Joseph Nethery
MPA Major Research Papers
This study examines why few municipalities in Ontario have adopted the Development Permit System (DPS). In attempting to identify what relationships exist between organizational behaviours and the consideration of DPS, a survey pre-test and a full survey were administered to various municipalities in Ontario, in addition to a case study of DPS in Carleton Place. The findings reveal that larger municipalities and municipalities with a higher number of Registered Professional Planners tend to consider DPS more often, with statistically significant relationships found between the consideration of DPS and the individual interest of planners, challenging development projects, and male planners.
Public Participation In Canadian Local Government: A Study Of The Meadowlily Secondary Plan Process In London, Ontario, Michael Hurley
Public Participation In Canadian Local Government: A Study Of The Meadowlily Secondary Plan Process In London, Ontario, Michael Hurley
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines whether the facilitation of public participation in local government is a worthwhile objective, using public engagement in the Meadowlily Secondary Plan in London, Ontario as a case study. An online survey was administered to citizens who participated in the City’s land use planning process. The findings reveal that by participating in decision-making, citizens learned about the processes and responsibilities of municipal government, in addition to other forms of learning, which demonstrates that the facilitation of public participation in municipal government is indeed a worthwhile objective.
Decentralized Administrations And Decision-Making & Effective Policy Implementation: A Study Of Agricultural Severance In Southwestern Ontario 2001 To 2007, Paul Hicks
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines agricultural severance activity, specifically lot creation in agriculturally designated land, in Southwestern Ontario between 2001 and 2007. Data on the number of lots created in agriculturally designated areas in 10 rural municipalities was collected and compared to information on the planning and decision-making structures of the municipalities. The findings reveal that there is a relationship between decentralized administrative and decision-making bodies and the granting of agricultural severances.
Differences In Population Growth: A Case Study Of Two Eastern Ontario Rural Municipalities, Beverly Kerby
Differences In Population Growth: A Case Study Of Two Eastern Ontario Rural Municipalities, Beverly Kerby
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines the possible explanations for significant population growth in rural areas using case studies of two municipalities in Eastern Ontario: Centre Hastings, which has experienced substantial population growth, and Stirling-Rawdon, which has not. Population statistics for each municipality are analyzed and related to the physical landscape, local economy, and local governments. The findings reveal that possible reasons for why the population of Centre Hastings has increased significantly include the building ban in Stirling, the concentration of services in Centre Hastings as a result of amalgamation, lower tax rates and unemployment rates, and the benefits associated with the geographical …
Impacts Of The Greenbelt Plan On The Agricultural Industry, Case Study: Town Of Erin, Wellington County, Robert Dwayne Evans
Impacts Of The Greenbelt Plan On The Agricultural Industry, Case Study: Town Of Erin, Wellington County, Robert Dwayne Evans
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines the impact of the Greenbelt Plan on the agricultural industry in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area. An analysis of agricultural data from the 2001 Census and interviews with farmers living both within and outside of the Greenbelt Area in the lower-tier municipality of Erin were conducted. The findings reveal that the Greenbelt Plan does not have a negative impact on the agricultural industry in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and many participants cited the positive effects of the legislation.
Public Participation In Clark County, Nevada: An Analysis Of Public Participation In The Land Use Planning Process, Fred R. Turnier
Public Participation In Clark County, Nevada: An Analysis Of Public Participation In The Land Use Planning Process, Fred R. Turnier
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
This paper explores public participation as determined through three land use planning case studies in Clark County, Nevada. Chapter One outlines the existing conditions for public participation and introduces a set of questions to be explored. Chapter Two defines the scope and methodology employed in the research. Chapter Three is a literature review for levels of public participation. The next Chapter discusses statutory requirements for planning and formal public participation. Further, Chapter Four outlines the events leading up to a revised planning participation process and implementation in three land use plan updates. Finally, Chapter Four explores themes derived through the …
Why A Strategic Plan?: A Review Of Strategic Planning In Selected Ontario Municipalities, Moira Winch
Why A Strategic Plan?: A Review Of Strategic Planning In Selected Ontario Municipalities, Moira Winch
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines whether strategic planning processes successfully assist municipal councils and staff in Ontario based on case studies of 11 municipalities in Ottawa-Carleton and the City of Burlington. The findings reveal that in many instances, strategic planning is being used successfully and the most important factor that contributes to its success is the leadership and commitment of council to the initiation and implementation of the plan.
An Investigation Of Strategic Planning And Organizational Change: Halton Regional Police Service, Laurie Mcginn
An Investigation Of Strategic Planning And Organizational Change: Halton Regional Police Service, Laurie Mcginn
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines the strategic planning process used by the Halton Regional Police Service to assess its effectiveness in terms of counteracting staff resistance to change. Case studies of the process that was used in 1991 and repeated in 1995 were conducted. The findings reveal that the working philosophy of strategic planning would be better served by fully recognizing and anticipating employee resistance to change within the strategic planning process and developing solutions to help overcome its effects.
Intermunicipal Servicing Agreements: Four Case Studies In Huron County, Jennifer Hosack
Intermunicipal Servicing Agreements: Four Case Studies In Huron County, Jennifer Hosack
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines how local servicing problems – with a specific focus on sewage and water services – can be dealt with effectively based on four case studies of municipalities in Huron County. An analysis of municipal and provincial documents and interviews with key stakeholders were conducted. The findings reveal that local servicing problems can be successfully addressed with servicing agreements, which involve adjacent municipalities working cooperatively with one another in order to obtain the level of servicing that they each desire.