Is Florida's Growth Management Act protecting agricultural lands?
Name
766546292-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
9.14 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
332e0c091c0f62a2a1357319a2276769
Author(s)
Lloyd, Stephen (Stephen Charles Rhys)
Advisor(s)
Michael Flaxman.
Date Issued
2011
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Florida has experienced more population growth over the past half century than any other state, which has led to some of the most extensive urban development on valuable agricultural lands. To address this and other impacts of sprawl, Florida passed the Growth Management Act (GMA) in 1985, which among other things required local comprehensive planning and that it be consistent with a state plan of policies and objectives. While the GMA has been the subject of much scrutiny, little empirical research has been conducted specifically in regards to the loss of agricultural lands. Utilizing spatial analytic techniques and historic county comprehensive planning data, I examine the extent to which this growth management policy has been effective at protecting agricultural land. I conclude that the GMA has had a statistically significant and notable impact on the rate and location of urban development on agricultural land. Given wide county differences in effort and rates of conversion, however, it is clear that while the GMA is necessary, it is not sufficient in its current state for the viability of agriculture. A regional strategy with specific goals and objectives for agricultural protection should be defined and eXisting planning mechanisms should be coupled with additional farmland protection tools for the GMA to be more effective in the long-term.
Description
Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-63).
Subjects
Urban Studies and Planning.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning
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