Motivation & Philosophy
As a scholar, my research is often motivated by the adage expressed in many communities throughout the country, “our plans sit on a shelf and collect dust.” While this is by no means the experience of all communities, both academics and professionals generally concur that outcome and program evaluation are a deficient, if not the most deficient phases of community planning and development.
The central goal of my research agenda seeks to overcome this deficiency. To do so, my research investigates the successes and failures of community planning and development practices, programs, and policies while also identifying common trends among outcome sources. Originating from my tenure as a planning consultant, my other research motivation developed from an enlightened perception of regional planning. Since the political influence and responsibilities of most community planners and developers terminate at their boundaries, many of the functional and place-based issues we face are often neglected as they traverse established boundaries. The secondary goal of my research agenda seeks to investigate the implications of this phenomenon in both conventional and unconventional regions, while also advocating for collaborative leadership practices which foster tangible resolutions to regional issues of the built environment.
Ultimately, my research prioritizes the pursuit of practical inferences which not only advance the academic discourse but have value to professional planners and their communities. Some examples of key contributions I aim for in my research include: (1) fulfilling visible gaps in knowledge; (2) enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of community planning and development efforts; (3) strengthening the distinction between “good” and “bad” plans; (4) mitigating future damage to political and professional reputations; (5) preventing an unproductive allocation of future resources; (6) improving future community planning and development endeavors; and (7) increasing procedural efficiency.
The central goal of my research agenda seeks to overcome this deficiency. To do so, my research investigates the successes and failures of community planning and development practices, programs, and policies while also identifying common trends among outcome sources. Originating from my tenure as a planning consultant, my other research motivation developed from an enlightened perception of regional planning. Since the political influence and responsibilities of most community planners and developers terminate at their boundaries, many of the functional and place-based issues we face are often neglected as they traverse established boundaries. The secondary goal of my research agenda seeks to investigate the implications of this phenomenon in both conventional and unconventional regions, while also advocating for collaborative leadership practices which foster tangible resolutions to regional issues of the built environment.
Ultimately, my research prioritizes the pursuit of practical inferences which not only advance the academic discourse but have value to professional planners and their communities. Some examples of key contributions I aim for in my research include: (1) fulfilling visible gaps in knowledge; (2) enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of community planning and development efforts; (3) strengthening the distinction between “good” and “bad” plans; (4) mitigating future damage to political and professional reputations; (5) preventing an unproductive allocation of future resources; (6) improving future community planning and development endeavors; and (7) increasing procedural efficiency.
Current Research
In my dissertation, Operation Regional Harmony: A Study of Defense Communities Implementing Joint Land Use Studies, I am evaluating the implementation of a nationwide, cooperative regional planning program commonly known as the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) program. This comprehensive program is a response by the U.S. Department of Defense to prevent and mitigate physical incompatibilities between military installations and defense communities. Defense communities can simply be defined as local civilian communities adjacent to, dependent on, and/or directly impacted by active military installations. This study exemplifies my current research focus on unconventional regions and policy responses to regional planning issues. As deliberations concerning another Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round remain open, scholarship on defense communities remains critical for supporting the long-term compatibility between civilian development and military readiness. By surveying civilian and military stakeholders from defense communities with JLUSs, this study presents the first ex-post evaluation to date of the program’s perceived performance and conformance.
The dissertation also tests an unconventional methodological instrument in planning scholarship, the policy Delphi. Applied in the form of a pilot study, this study measures the effect of introducing a second round of surveying (i.e. via this consensus method) using two sites as a control and treatment group. Testing the instrument in this manner is intended to be an initial assessment of the validity and reliability of the instrument to inform future scholarship on community policymaking and evaluation. Finally, this study interviewed civilian planners to facilitate a qualitative understanding of the applicability of joint studies in other contexts. The practical inferences from this study will aid key community stakeholders and leaders, both military and civilian, to reflect on the implementation of their own regional strategies and policies for combating physical incompatibilities. Collectively, I plan to transform my dissertation into multiple journal articles which: (1) reintroduce defense communities as a significant setting of regional planning; (2) demonstrate the paradigm shift in policy responses towards domestic defense policy and land use; and (3) present the findings of the survey and interviews related to program performance, conformance, and diffusion potential.
Unrelated to the dissertation, I am also presently co-authoring a study with Dr. Huston Gibson investigating the implementation of Vision 2020 community plans. At the turn of the century, it was popular for communities updating their plans to title them “Vision 2020” due to the catchy name, the approximate 20-year time horizon, and the recognition that 20/20 vision signifies “perfect” eyesight. This study retrospectively analyzes “Vision 2020” community plans from this period, with a critical analysis of their vision statements and subsequent implementation. The study applies content analysis and personal interviews with local community professionals from various geographic regions in the United States. A varied sample was extracted from a dozen plans implemented over the past 20 years which exemplified a focus on community visioning. Findings will discuss what worked, what did not work, and lessons learned. Subsequent recommendations are intended to aid community development professionals with future visioning processes and implementation for change.
The dissertation also tests an unconventional methodological instrument in planning scholarship, the policy Delphi. Applied in the form of a pilot study, this study measures the effect of introducing a second round of surveying (i.e. via this consensus method) using two sites as a control and treatment group. Testing the instrument in this manner is intended to be an initial assessment of the validity and reliability of the instrument to inform future scholarship on community policymaking and evaluation. Finally, this study interviewed civilian planners to facilitate a qualitative understanding of the applicability of joint studies in other contexts. The practical inferences from this study will aid key community stakeholders and leaders, both military and civilian, to reflect on the implementation of their own regional strategies and policies for combating physical incompatibilities. Collectively, I plan to transform my dissertation into multiple journal articles which: (1) reintroduce defense communities as a significant setting of regional planning; (2) demonstrate the paradigm shift in policy responses towards domestic defense policy and land use; and (3) present the findings of the survey and interviews related to program performance, conformance, and diffusion potential.
Unrelated to the dissertation, I am also presently co-authoring a study with Dr. Huston Gibson investigating the implementation of Vision 2020 community plans. At the turn of the century, it was popular for communities updating their plans to title them “Vision 2020” due to the catchy name, the approximate 20-year time horizon, and the recognition that 20/20 vision signifies “perfect” eyesight. This study retrospectively analyzes “Vision 2020” community plans from this period, with a critical analysis of their vision statements and subsequent implementation. The study applies content analysis and personal interviews with local community professionals from various geographic regions in the United States. A varied sample was extracted from a dozen plans implemented over the past 20 years which exemplified a focus on community visioning. Findings will discuss what worked, what did not work, and lessons learned. Subsequent recommendations are intended to aid community development professionals with future visioning processes and implementation for change.
Future Research Agenda
Due to a near absence of scholarship on defense communities and planning policy responses to physical incompatibilities, the goal of the dissertation needed to focus primarily on producing descriptive inferences to set the foundation for future research. With an understanding of where the JLUS program performs and conforms as revealed by the dissertation, the next clear step of my future research agenda is a subsequent study which pursues causal inferences. My goal for this subsequent study will be to investigate the motivations behind stakeholder assessments and the homogeneity/ heterogeneity found among certain stakeholder groups. I am currently prioritizing the pursuit of this subsequent study due to the fluidity of respondent opinions, attitudes, and feelings over time which may raise concerns of reliability if not pursued within a reasonable time frame; in addition, it will cap off a comprehensive study of this program. Other items on my future research agenda which directly link to the dissertation include: (1) continuing to experiment with and develop the policy Delphi and other consensus methods in community planning and policy research; (2) investigate more specific functional issues of regional planning in defense communities (e.g. land use, transportation, housing etc.); and (3) study and compare the incompatibilities and policy responses of defense communities internationally.
While significant to the academic discourse, my future research agenda is not aimed exclusively at defense communities. I am also interested in studying and conducting action-oriented research on other community planning and development issues and solutions, particularly those which influence or are influenced by the built environment. Examples of more specific issues of the built environment include such topics as land use, environmental sustainability, economic development, transportation, housing, and more. In addition to working alongside local communities, my research agenda seeks to engage reservations, federal and state agencies, universities, metropolitan planning organizations, centers of aviation, and other community-based organizations. To pursue and promote this future research agenda, my ideal list of institutional support consists of: (1) a program which endorses mixed methods; (2) an institutional review board and library service that responds in a timely manner; (3) a suitable facility with the necessary equipment for conducting research on urban and community studies; (4) a program which can assist in the pursuit of grant opportunities; and (5) a program that offers opportunities for assistance to present my research at pertinent conferences.
While significant to the academic discourse, my future research agenda is not aimed exclusively at defense communities. I am also interested in studying and conducting action-oriented research on other community planning and development issues and solutions, particularly those which influence or are influenced by the built environment. Examples of more specific issues of the built environment include such topics as land use, environmental sustainability, economic development, transportation, housing, and more. In addition to working alongside local communities, my research agenda seeks to engage reservations, federal and state agencies, universities, metropolitan planning organizations, centers of aviation, and other community-based organizations. To pursue and promote this future research agenda, my ideal list of institutional support consists of: (1) a program which endorses mixed methods; (2) an institutional review board and library service that responds in a timely manner; (3) a suitable facility with the necessary equipment for conducting research on urban and community studies; (4) a program which can assist in the pursuit of grant opportunities; and (5) a program that offers opportunities for assistance to present my research at pertinent conferences.