The efficacy of statutory public hearings for planning: A comparison of four Canadian jurisdictions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Statutory public hearings for urban development proposals are among the oldest venues for public participation in urban planning in the U.S., Canada, and many other jurisdictions, and the most common venues for resident participation in planning. A number of scholars discuss public hearings in their work. However, such depictions are often contradictory and do not test nor examine whether public hearings allow residents to influence planning decisions. This paper tests the efficacy of statutory public hearings and examines whether institutional difference (at-large vs. ward-based councils) and contextual difference (suburban municipalities vs. their urban cores) affect residents’ ability to influence municipal councilors via public hearings. The paper finds that resident opposition to development at public hearings does not result in substantial changes to development proposals. However, contextual and institutional differences do alter how councilors respond to resident opposition.