Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

The Role Of Health And Physical Activity In The Adoption Of Innovative Land Use Policy: Findings From Surveys Of Local Planners, Jennifer Dill, Deborah A. Howe

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Research has established that built environments, including street networks, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and land uses, can positively affect the frequency and duration of daily physical activity. Attention is now being given to policy frameworks such as zoning codes that set the standards and expectations for this built environment. Methods: We examined the adoption and implementation of mixed-use and related zoning provisions with specific attention to the role that physical activity serves as a motivation for such policies and to what extent public health agencies influence the adoption process. A sample of planning directors from 53 communities with outstanding …