Saving Land but Losing Ground

Abstract

Over the past quarter century, normative planning theory has argued that planning should be participatory. And a body of empirical studies has found that mainstream planning practice is participatory in some sense. At the same time, however, there is a competing body of empirical studies that disputes the claim that planning is participatory in any meaningful way. As participation becomes more and more prominent in shaping the practice of local government planning, it is important to try to shed light on this apparent contradiction. To that end, the authors have investigated the development of the most recent comprehensive plan for Jackson/Teton County, Wyoming. What appeared to be a process of high involvement and inclusiveness did not lead to community consensus around the plan, nor did it affirm the merits of planning. This study is an exploration of why participatory planning failed to achieve its potential in a community with a history of local problem solving.