Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe strategic land use planning practice and examine relationships between major county characteristics, perceptions of benefits and implementation of strategic planning in conjunction with land use planning at the county level in California. Theoretical framework. Strategic and land use planning theories provide theoretical framework for this dissertation. Complex county systems, key stakeholders, organizational culture, and sizes of resources influence perceptions of benefits and practice of comprehensive (macrolevel) or selected components (microlevel) of strategic planning. Implementation of microlevel strategic planning in conjunction with land use planning is described as a stratekinetic land use planning theory. Methodology. This study utilized a cross-sectional design that provides a snapshot of land use planning practices at the county level in California. The overall hypothesis was that counties with larger resources and higher extent of boards of supervisors' support are more likely to perceive benefits and practice strategic planning. The research method was a survey. A questionnaire was mailed to key stakeholders in fifty-eight California counties. The response rate was 89.66 percent. Percentages and chi-square tests were utilized to analyze collected data. Finding. The majority of counties do not budget for strategic planning or conduct environmental scanning. Results indicate that counties with larger unincorporated area sizes, and those with higher extent of leadership, are more likely to perceive benefits and practice strategic planning. Responses indicate that counties utilize strategic planning components or focused strategic plans (microlevel) for more effective land use planning, which is defined as stratekinetic land use planning Conclusions and recommendations. Strategic and stratekinetic planning are implemented by land use planning agencies at the county level in California. Board leadership and political support are key to the extent of perceptions of benefits and practice of strategic planning. Recommendations were made to increase allocation of resources to strategic land use planning, environmental scanning, training, technology, and public outreach; provide leadership, redefine roles, demo process, include technopolicrats; anticipate changes to maximize opportunities; and increase practice of strategic and stratekinetic land use planning in the new millennium.