Conclusions

This chapter developed a conceptual model that will be tested in subsequent chapters. The model provides a framework for understanding the association between planners’

commitment and role orientations and flood hazard mitigation. Testing the model will help address the four research questions presented in Chapter 1. What follows is a summary of the four research questions and how they are addressed in this study.

Question 1: Is planners’ commitment associated with flood hazard mitigation?

To answer the first research question, “Is planners’ commitment to hazard mitigation associated with flood hazard mitigation features in development projects under their

review?”, it is necessary to consider the hypothesized link in the conceptual model between planners’ commitment and flood hazard mitigation. Previous research has found that the commitment of planning agencies to hazard mitigation makes a positive contribution to the quality of local land use plans (Berke & French, 1994), to limiting development in hazardous areas (Burby & Dalton, 1994), and to the strength of development management programs, (Dalton & Burby, 1994; Burby & May et al., 1997). This study focuses on the commitment of individual planners (rather than planning agencies) to hazard mitigation. To test the hypothesis that the commitment of individual planners to hazard mitigation is associated with flood hazard mitigation features in development projects reviewed by those planners, a survey was conducted with planners who have reviewed development projects located in hazardous areas (i.e. floodplains) regarding their commitment to hazard mitigation and the flood hazard mitigation features that were incorporated into the development projects they reviewed. Potential confounding variables are controlled for. Testing the strength and significance of the regression coefficients for flood hazard mitigation regressed on planners’

commitment will help answer the question of whether planners’ commitment is associated with flood hazard mitigation.

Question 2: Are planners’ role orientations associated with flood hazard mitigation?

To answer the second research question, “Are planners’ role orientations associated with flood hazard mitigation features in development projects under their review?”, it is necessary to consider the hypothesized link in the conceptual model between planners’ role orientations and flood hazard mitigation. The literature suggests that role orientations influence planners’ behaviors during the site plan review process. In particular, role orientations help determine whether and how planners seek to involve the public, whether they personally promote their own priorities, and whether they provide advice to decision- makers. Within the context of flood hazard mitigation, planners might mobilize citizen groups to advocate for mitigation design features, produce technical information related to natural hazards such as floodplain maps, promote mitigation in discussion with elected officials, and/or advocate for mitigation themselves in negotiations with developers. To test the hypothesis that planners’ role orientations are associated with flood hazard mitigation, a survey was conducted with planners who have reviewed development projects located in floodplains regarding their role orientations and the flood hazard mitigation features that were incorporated into the development projects they reviewed. Potential confounding variables are controlled for. Testing the strength and significance of the regression coefficients for flood hazard mitigation regressed on planners’ role orientations will help answer the question of whether planners’ role orientations are associated with flood hazard mitigation.

Question 3: Are planners’ role orientations associated with public participation?

To answer the third research question, “Are planners’ role orientations associated with public participation levels in site plan review?”, it is necessary to consider the hypothesized link in the conceptual model between planners’ role orientations and public participation. The literature suggests that role orientations influence whether and how planners intentionally involve citizens in the site plan review process. In particular, some role orientations will inspire planners to actively mobilize citizens in the site plan review process, while other role orientations will not. To test the hypotheses relating to planners’ role orientations and flood hazard mitigation, a survey was conducted with planners who have reviewed development projects regarding their role orientations and the level of public participation in the site plan review process for the development projects they reviewed. Potential confounding variables are controlled for. Testing the strength and significance of the regression coefficients for the public participation variables regressed on planners’ role orientations will help answer the question of whether the planners’ role orientations are associated with public participation.

Question 4: Does the association of planners’ commitment with flood hazard mitigation depend upon planners’ role orientations?

To answer the fourth research question, “Does the association of planners’ commitment with flood hazard mitigation features in development projects under their review depend upon planners’ role orientations?”, it is necessary to consider the hypothesized link in the

conceptual model between Commitment*Role Orientations and flood hazard mitigation. The literature suggests that role orientations influence whether and how planners pursue their own values in their work. In particular, some planners will promote their own values by

mobilizing citizens, producing information, providing advice to elected officials, and/or serving as personal advocates. Still others will not promote their own values at all. Thus, the influence of planners’ commitment to hazard mitigation on flood hazard mitigation features can be expected to vary with planners’ role orientations. To test the hypotheses relating to Commitment*Role Orientations and flood hazard mitigation, a survey was conducted with planners who have reviewed development projects locating in floodplains regarding their personal values with respect to hazard mitigation, their role orientations, and the flood hazard mitigation features that were incorporated into the development projects they reviewed. Potential confounding variables are controlled for. Testing the strength and significance of the regression coefficients for flood hazard mitigation regressed on the interaction of planners’ commitment and role orientations will help answer the question of whether the interaction of planners’ commitment and role orientations is associated with flood hazard mitigation.

CHAPTER 4

4. RESEARCH DESIGN, METHODS, AND