OPPOSING GROWTH POLICIES IN ADJACENT TOWNS: A STUDY OF PLYMOUTH AND WAREHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

Abstract

Growth management would appear to be the key phrase in the field of planning for the coming decade. It is not a new idea, but one which has ignited both the interest and criticism of practitioners and theorists alike. It may well be a concept that's time has come. As the hidden costs of growth become more apparent, a new attitude is gradually emerging; one which stresses the importance of preserving the natural and cultural characteristics which make up a "humanly satisfying living environment. " The essential goal of growth management is closely related to the basic goal of city planning itself. Growth management attempts to organize, control, and coordinate the process of urban development so as to protect what we value in environmental, cultural, and aesthetic characteristics of the land while meeting the essential needs of the changing U.S. population for new housing, roads, energy, recreational, commercial and industrial facilities, and human services. It is a concept which incorporates when, where, and in what manner growth should be accommodated. As a policy, it must address the physical, social and cultural, and political aspects of the "character" of a community, and which must generate a plan to preserve or improve this character. The physical aspects of a community's character are easily the most manifest; narrow roads, panoramic views, historic buildings, plentiful open space, and traditional town centers combine in a distinctive way in each community and often account for its residents' sense of identity and pride. The social and cultural aspects, while less obvious, are equally important. Social and ethnic diversity, close-knit neighborhoods, traditional New England settlement patterns, and shared values form the basis for the town's sense of heritage. Finally, the political aspect of the character of a community consists largely of a strong tradition of home rule, and a reliance upon the town meeting form of government. This type of political forum indicates dependence on part-time local officials and a high level of citizen participation; factors which contribute to the residents' sense of concern about the town and its course of future development and growth. Applied on a local level, growth management or growth/no-growth policies are perceived as merely affecting the geographic distribution of people and economic activity within some larger society, such as the region or state. The determination of this distribution, however, may affect more than the physical land use configuration of the region. It may