Adventures in Implementation: Mandating Open Space Preservation in a Weak Mandate State

ABSTRACT:

This study uses a mix of qualitative, quantitative, and spatial statistical methods to investigate local government responses to a state level change in land use policy. The results suggest that local governments resisted state intervention, and were guided mainly by self-interest and peers’ actions when deciding whether or not to change their ordinances. The study examines the reasons for this principal–agent failure, and suggests an alternative approach for other weak-mandate states attempting to influence local land use policy.

Notes

These townships are three miles by six miles in area, rather than the six-by-six mile square of a full township. Many civil townships in Michigan follow the boundaries of the original survey townships set out by surveyors of the Northwest Ordinance in the 1700s.

I also ran a test for global spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I), since hot spot analysis may not be appropriate for data with significant global spatial autocorrelation (ESRI Developer Network, ; Getis & Ord, ). In this case, however, there was no significant evidence of global spatial autocorrelation.

It is important to note that in communities without sewer systems, no lot can be smaller than health department regulations allow for an adequate septic field. Typically this lower limit is one to two acres, depending on soil type in the area.

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Notes on contributors

Carolyn G. Loh

Carolyn G. Loh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Wayne State University. A former planning consultant, her research interests include land use, the planning process, implementation, intergovernmental cooperation, and regional planning.