Are We There Yet?

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings In 2020, Berke and Conroy demonstrated that plan policies did not promote sustainability principles strongly or in a balanced fashion. Has this changed in the intervening years? We conducted a longitudinal analysis of the policies in the updated versions of the plans in Berke and Conroy using their coding framework, comparing scores with the original plans. We found that most of the updated plans from the original study locations have an overarching sustainability vision, though this did not result in consistently higher sustainability scores. Although there were no significant differences in the strength with which sustainability principles were promoted in the updated plans, there were descriptive shifts in the promoted principles. In the updated plans, we found the same imbalance in principles promoted by present policies as in the original plans, making policy integration between principles a key consideration. The progress of policy adoption to promote sustainability principles may be slow; therefore, as more communities frame their comprehensive plans around sustainability, longitudinal studies are required to continue to track the effects of the progress. Takeaway for practice Sustainability scores for comprehensive plans have not significantly changed from 20 years ago, though more are focused on the concept of sustainability as an overarching vision. Evaluating scores over time provides insight into the nature of progress in supporting that vision.