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An Evaluation of Local Comprehensive Plans Toward Sustainable Green Infrastructure in US

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  • Hyun Woo Kim

    (Department of Urban Policy & Administration, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Korea)

  • Tho Tran

    (Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, Langford A308 TAMU 3137, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

Abstract

The benefits of green infrastructure have been verified at the site-level by many empirical studies. However, there is limited understanding of how local governments prepare and implement green infrastructure planning in practice. This study employs the content analysis method to examine the quality of local comprehensive plans regarding sustainable green infrastructure in 60 municipalities of the United States. The study uses regression analysis to explain the variance of plan quality. Study results indicate that key green infrastructure principles were not fully incorporated in the existing sampled plans, with average score of 19.6 out of 50. While plan quality scores were slightly higher in counties than in cities, both areas could significantly improve plan quality with detailed policies, action strategies, and implementation tactics for green infrastructure planning and management. Regression analysis further identified that planning capacities, as well as socio-economic characteristics of study area may impact overall plan quality. The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of incorporating detailed green infrastructure principles whenever local planners adopt or amend regional plans in order to improve plan quality and to support implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyun Woo Kim & Tho Tran, 2018. "An Evaluation of Local Comprehensive Plans Toward Sustainable Green Infrastructure in US," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4143-:d:182022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Zhenghong Tang & Samuel D Brody, 2009. "Linking Planning Theories with Factors Influencing Local Environmental-Plan Quality," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 36(3), pages 522-537, June.
    6. Pappalardo, Viviana & La Rosa, Daniele & Campisano, Alberto & La Greca, Paolo, 2017. "The potential of green infrastructure application in urban runoff control for land use planning: A preliminary evaluation from a southern Italy case study," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PB), pages 345-354.
    7. Hyun Woo Kim & Ming-Han Li, 2016. "Sustainable Stormwater Management: Examining the Role of Local Planning Capacity in Mitigating Peak Surface Runoff," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-19, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Lin, Sheng-Hau & Zhao, Xiaofeng & Wu, Jiuxing & Liang, Fachao & Li, Jia-Hsuan & Lai, Ren-Ji & Hsieh, Jing-Chzi & Tzeng, Gwo-Hshiung, 2021. "An evaluation framework for developing green infrastructure by using a new hybrid multiple attribute decision-making model for promoting environmental sustainability," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Ndivhuwo Ramovha & Martha Chadyiwa & Freeman Ntuli & Thandiwe Sithole, 2024. "The Potential of Stormwater Management Strategies and Artificial Intelligence Modeling Tools to Improve Water Quality: A Review," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 38(10), pages 3527-3560, August.
    4. Krystyna Solarek & Marta Kubasińska, 2022. "Local Spatial Plans in Supporting Sustainable Water Resources Management: Case Study from Warsaw Agglomeration—Kampinos National Park Vicinity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-27, May.
    5. Renato Monteiro & José C. Ferreira & Paula Antunes, 2020. "Green Infrastructure Planning Principles: An Integrated Literature Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Katarzyna Rędzińska & Monika Piotrkowska, 2020. "Urban Planning and Design for Building Neighborhood Resilience to Climate Change," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-19, October.
    7. Hyun Woo Kim & Dakota Aaron McCarty & Jaekyung Lee, 2020. "Enhancing Sustainable Urban Regeneration through Smart Technologies: An Assessment of Local Urban Regeneration Strategic Plans in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Trang Le & Tho Tran, 2023. "An Evaluation of Local Comprehensive Plans Regarding Green Infrastructure in 52 Cities across the U.S. Gulf Coast Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.
    9. Sanghyeon Ko & Dongwoo Lee, 2021. "Effectiveness of Green Infrastructure Location Based on a Social Well-Being Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    10. Laura Turconi & Francesco Faccini & Alessandra Marchese & Guido Paliaga & Marco Casazza & Zoran Vojinovic & Fabio Luino, 2020. "Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydro-Meteorological Risk Reduction in Small Mediterranean Catchments: The Case of Portofino Natural Regional Park, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, February.
    11. Jaekyung Lee & Yunmi Park & Hyun Woo Kim, 2019. "Evaluation of Local Comprehensive Plans to Vacancy Issue in a Growing and Shrinking City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-21, September.
    12. Dong-jin Lee & Seong Woo Jeon, 2020. "Estimating Changes in Habitat Quality through Land-Use Predictions: Case Study of Roe Deer ( Capreolus pygargus tianschanicus ) in Jeju Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Renato Monteiro & José Carlos Ferreira & Paula Antunes, 2022. "Green Infrastructure Planning Principles: Identification of Priorities Using Analytic Hierarchy Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
    14. Lin, Sheng-Hau & Huang, Xianjin & Fu, Guole & Chen, Jia-Tsong & Zhao, Xiaofeng & Li, Jia-Hsuan & Tzeng, Gwo-Hshiung, 2021. "Evaluating the sustainability of urban renewal projects based on a model of hybrid multiple-attribute decision-making," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).

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