Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Committee Chair
Corey Colyer.
Committee Co-Chair
Melissa Latimer
Committee Member
Jennifer Steele
Abstract
Zoning and other restrictive land use policies are quite common in the United States and are frequently enacted as a response to the rapid growth and change within a city or county. Past research on zoning has primarily examined the positive and negative consequences of zoning ordinances, often focusing the analysis on neighborhood change. This study inductively examines the conflict that emerged in one county when new zoning ordinances were proposed through an in-depth analysis of nearly 300 newspaper forums, observations of three public hearings, and interviews with key informants. Concerned with activists on both sides of the zoning issue, this study explores reasons for support and opposition to zoning in rural-urban fringe county. Findings illustrate how perceived threat is associated with what individuals in the community recognize the goals and consequences of zoning policy to be. Implications of the findings and future research are also discussed.
Recommended Citation
Chambers, Jennifer, "Zoned out: Conflict and perceived threat in a rural-urban fringe area" (2009). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 761.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/761