Developing a Method for Integrating People, Ecology, and the Built Environment
Understanding the Roles of Community Engagement in the Coastal Planning Process
A senior research project submitted to the Urban Studies and Planning Department
University of California, San Diego
Juliette Orozco
USP 187
28 February 2013
Abstract:
The University of California, San Diego Kendall Frost Natural Reserve located in the northern
section of Mission Bay, adjacent to the City of San Diego neighborhoods of Pacific Beach, and
Crown Point is currently undergoing an ecologically-based restoration project. This project is
being completed, primarily, through volunteer work-hours, reflecting the idea that the
communities surrounding the Kendall Frost Marsh are stakeholders in the planning and
implementation of both restoration efforts and nearby redevelopment on immediately adjacent
City of San Diego property. These restoration efforts coincide with the primary stages of the
redevelopment of the Northern boundaries of Mission Bay and the creation of the most recent
Mission Bay Master Plan. This study looks at the effectiveness of certain methods of community
outreach as well as the possible effects of community outreach on the outcomes this project as it
relates to other Coastal Planning projects. The objective is to ascertain the public’s interests in a
project and utilize them in order to adapt and influence coastal planning, especially as coastal
development in San Diego becomes more prevalent and as the effects of global climate change
become more apparent. Determining the role of public outreach on planning is known to be
crucial factor in the planning process, however, it is generally unknown as to what effects public
outreach and participation will have on the environmental impacts of coastal planning practices.
Within the scope of this study, it has been ascertained that there is a greater need for community
outreach and education before it can be determined exactly how exactly San Diego Regional
Coastal Planning practices will be affected.
Key Terms: Coastal Planning, Community Outreach
Introduction:
Led by long-time resident Roy Little and Reserve Director Isabelle Kay on the first and
third Saturday of the month, a group of neighbors convene at the University of California Natural
Reserve at Kendall-Frost Marsh to improve the area. In joining in these bi-monthly volunteer
meetings over the years, various interns for the Reserve have had a great impact on the
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attendance of these meetings. The cyclical nature of both the intern participation, as well as the
general population of the tri-university area, conveys the idea that community outreach and
education is dependent on both the producers of information, as well as the recipients.
Witnessing such high turnover rate in those responsible for outreach and those who maintain
residence in this Pacific Beach neighborhood provides insight into the struggle to keep the
community informed and engaged.
By taking into account the growing coastal populations of San Diego, the future impacts
of global climate change, and the degradation of Southern California’s wetlands over the years,
this study will examine the needs for planners to focus on the interaction amongst people, the
built environment, and the natural environment as a means of determining how public
engagement affects the outcomes of planning practices. Examining the Kendall Frost Marsh will
provide a case study that allows insight into how the process of community outreach changes the
process of planning.
The research convening the scientific basis of wetland ecology and the functions and
practice of community outreach is essentially non-existent. Currently, the discussions of coastal
planning in areas surrounding wetlands and community outreach do not intersect, leaving a gap
in the knowledge of how decisions regarding the natural and built environments are made. This
lack of connectivity exposes current practice that important, impacting decisions are being made
without the necessary level of distributed information. While specific neighborhoods and regions
will vary in their specific needs, the need for community involvement is universally important.
Focusing on the specific needs of an area where coastal ecology and built environment are
closely related with one another prompted the case study of the Kendall-Frost neighborhood on
the Northern end of Mission Bay in San Diego, California. The scope of this research project
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revolves around the role of coastal planning as it pertains to Kendall-Frost Natural Reserve, a
UCSD property completely surrounded by City of San Diego-owned properties. This area is
being used as the basis for study because of the prominence of local community groups who
work to promote an agenda, primarily revolving around the conservation, preservation, and
restoration of coastal and wetland ecosystems.
In order to determine the public’s stakes in the Kendall Frost restoration projects and
surrounding projects, planers need to be able to make use of community input. Due to the
likelihood of drastic changes in coastal planning needs because of climate change effects,
planners will need to develop the ability to adapt and influence coastal planning (California
Chapter, American Planning Association Climate Change Task Force 2007, 1-8). The purpose
behind this study is to determine whether or not a more engaged public will ultimately lead to
improved San Diego Regional Coastal Planning practices both in the Kendall Frost Marsh area,
and in the region as a whole. Establishing a method of public outreach that emphasizes educating
community members on the many aspects of community planning issues is essential to the
improvement of planning practices. Knowledge of basic economic, environmental, social, and
political underpinnings of the planning process is crucial to the informed community input
required to influence future planning and environmental practices.
Literature Review:
There seems to be a general lack of connectivity between the two realms of
environmental conservation and planning. For environmental planning in general, and the
Kendall Frost Marsh in particular, it is necessary to take studies and information from the
environmental perspective and provide suggestions for implementation. Although planners may
not be able to follow the guidelines of environmental researchers perfectly, this guidance would
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undoubtedly lead to a better compromise between conservation efforts and the needs of an urban
community. Most of the above articles do not take a realistic approach on the needs of the urban
realm, and in some occasions, completely ignore the fact that there is a need for new
development as the human population rises. It is very easy for an environmental researcher or
advocate to ask for a stop to urban development, however, as the human population continues to
grow to its limit, planners have an increased burden to create urban areas for human use while
maintaining green spaces, wildlife, and protected areas. There are numerous studies that seek to
establish the importance of community outreach, and many studies researching the importance of
Coastal Planning, however, there is a lack of studies correlating these two practices.
Community Outreach:
Assessing the value of natural resources within a region is crucial to the planning process
as it provides a basis for the eventual need to synthesize the planning of the natural and built
environments. Generally, within the scope of literature discussing environmental concerns such
as restoration and conservation do not acknowledge the discussion of community outreach.
Environmentally-oriented stakeholders have valid reasons for limiting the amount of public
input, however, they ultimately risk losing support for beneficial projects. Without efforts to
include the public in these discussions, stakeholders from all perspectives become a larger
uneducated, uninformed community.
In outlining the roles of the environment and ecology, Grootestablishes how these
assessments and analyses can be funneled into environmentally minded planning, decisionmaking, and management. The book assigns fiscal and functional value to environmental
resources in an attempt to gain support for conservation purposes. While including this is
important to demonstrating the background and purpose for the study, Groot spends too much
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time discussing the value of already-existing natural resources, and not enough time on how to
best ensure its survival and propagation. This tends to be common oversight among similar
literature meant to tie in the ideas of the importance of community outreach and education within
the context of environmental conservation.
Dedicating an entire chapter to the utilization of his “environmental assessment and
ecological evaluation; concepts, methods, and arguments,” in environmental planning
demonstrates the acknowledged need for environmental conservation, however, Groot leaves
much to be desired in terms of any type of specific suggestion for improvements in the planning
process (Groot 1992, xvii). Instead of providing any type of guidelines for planners to utilize,
Groot suggests utilizing, “function evaluation as a tool in environmental planning, management
and decision making,” but does not venture far enough to give any strategies for implementation
(Groot 1992, xvii). The addition of an area-specific plan for community outreach, such as the
research design and analysis of the Kendall-Frost area case study, will act as a means to fill this
gap.
Coastal planning requires additional reports and studies regarding potential impact on the
natural environment, however, there are no such requirements to ensure adequate community
input regarding the impact on the built environment or the interactions between the two. Forrest
discusses the importance of including the public in planning decisions, as well as how to gain
this public opinion, making a point to include technology and social media in her discussion of
public outreach. Her praise of these media, while very applicable to younger audiences, do not
apply as directly to the older generations within various communities, who often have the
strongest ties to a location and are the most resistant to change. To counter problems faced by
researchers and those tasked with outreach programs, Forrest goes into detail in describing how
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community outreach tools are most beneficial when they are tailored to a region based on
individual needs. The needs of the coastal wetland area in which this study focuses are very
different from those just on the other side of Mission Bay, both ecologically and socially. While
regional plans are crucial in planning practices, individual neighborhood plans are necessary to
the function of smaller communities, and community outreach is the foundation for these plans.
Coastal Planning In San Diego:
Planning and development in coastal areas depend on the specific qualities of a region,
and, as a result, require case studies to determine which plans will provide the benefit to both the
natural and built environments. In areas considered for redevelopment, especially ecologically
sensitive areas such as the Kendall-Frost area, all stakeholders must be equally considered for the
mutual benefit of the community and environment. In planning this existing area, there are more
economic and social implications because of infrastructure, businesses that serve the community,
and housing. Since the Kendall-Frost Reserve is protected through federal, state, and local
statutes, there are minimal implications for further harm to the environment, however, there is
considerable risk for those who work and live in the neighborhood.
There is a need, according to Leisher, for an overall regional wetland restoration plan
rather than the typical fragmented, individual plans which have been the norm in San Diego
coastal planning over the years. Through various mitigation case studies, this article provides
strategies for improving existing and future wetland restoration and planning projects throughout
the region of San Diego. Beginning with history and background proves to be an important
element in this report, as it allows the audience to understand how past planning ventures have
caused the fragmentation of coastal wetland habitats, especially with the implementation of
roads, bridges, housing, and military development. Such an inclusion speaks to the idea that
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community education is valued by experts, yet may be overlooked in San Diego coastal planning
processes.
M. Soulé discusses the harm to biodiversity posed by biological islands occurring both
naturally and artificially. By proposing that environmental planning that solely takes into account
the species in an area, rather than the habitat on which they rely, Soulé brings an essential
element of both the environmental and planning worlds to light. Overall, sustainable and ecominded planning must look further into the future rather than simply, “provide for the short-term
needs of certain critically threatened, “flagship” species,” because they, “do not address the
fundamental issues of the deterioration of entire ecosystems or regions,” or the, “gradual
environmental degradation,” which plagues even the most seemingly environmentally friendly
developments and plans (Soulé 1991, 313).
With a strong focus on the past instances of habitat fragmentation and the ecological
effects of this trend, the author begins to lose sight of an applicable solution to this problem.
Although he provides guidelines to follow in order to minimize the impact of urbanization, there
seems to be a disconnect from the prospective with which he makes his suggestions and the types
of guidelines given to planners. In order to more effectively put these guidelines into action,
Soulé should provide a more detailed overview of the specific types of development which have
negatively affected wildlife habitat, and which proved to have a significantly lesser impact on
natural spaces. Overall, bridging the gap between environmentalists and planners would likely to
lead plans that emphasize a healthier natural ecosystem, as well as a healthier urban setting.
It is important to acknowledge the author’s recognition of the difficulties posed by
working within two very different fields, both biological and social. Although specific
suggestions for management practices and planning/zoning laws would be more beneficial to the
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study, the idea that two separate realms of the coastal planning process can be brought together
through a series of balances in order to garner the best results for all. Both the need for
conservation of resources and preservation of certain areas of marine habitat, along with the
unavoidable need to continue developing urban areas for an increasing population come together
in the minds of the authors, despite their underwhelming approach to planning. Even though they
make it obvious that there is a deep understanding of how to best protect marine wildlife, they do
not make it clear how to implement these ideas.
Conclusion:
While there is a predominantly similar message throughout the literature on community
outreach and coastal planning in San Diego, there is also a pattern amongst the literature that
shows a lack of knowledge on the concept of integrating the natural and built environments from
all perspectives. Due to the fact that these roles within planning and research are just beginning
to emerge, there does not yet exist the opportunity to study the effectiveness of bringing these
fields into closer conversation with one another. In context with the restoration efforts within the
neighborhood that encompasses Mission Bay’s Kendall Frost Marsh, various community
outreach tools are already being utilized, however, the addition of suggestions made in the above
literature may improve the efforts put forth by community member. This is significant because
due to a lack of funding through both the City’s Planning department and the Natural Reserve
system, community outreach and education relies heavily on the efforts of temporary volunteers.
Tying together the concepts of public outreach, ecological studies and conservation, and
planning for future restoration and development is crucial to the survival of this, and all other,
San Diego coastal natural areas.
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Research Strategy:
Due to the nature of the restoration projects under way at the Kendall-Frost Reserve,
there is a need to provide neighbors with basic information and invitations to community
meetings. In order to ensure that the community is well informed, there are continuing efforts to
distribute literature regarding neighborhood events and plans. This will both educate the public
on the current projects, as well as encourage people to participate by asking questions and
volunteering. Interviews and surveys focus heavily on determining the current state of
community outreach in the neighborhood, specifically within the realm of coastal planning, and
suggestions for improving both of these aspects. In an effort to determine possible patterns in
outreach, qualitative and quantitative analysis of times, locations, and demographic will be taken
from surveys and interviews. These patterns will help establish better practices based on
participant observation and stated preferences. Ultimately, this study strives to determine
advantages and disadvantages of current outreach practices within the Kendall-Frost
neighborhood in order to improve upon them. Through observation and analysis, these improved
outreach practices will likely lead to plans that are mutually beneficial to all interest groups
within the community, the built environment, and the natural environment.
Conducting research on the lack of communication between coastal planning and the role
of community outreachrequires an examination of the area as well as the people living within the
surrounding neighborhood. A case study was the most accessible and successful way to establish
relationships with the people who live in the area and have more effective community outreach,
while simultaneously gaining knowledge of both the built and natural environments in the area.
Becoming a part of the community proved crucial to the study, as a means of learning both the
specific ecological needs of the area and the concerns of the community. Specifically, this
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research maintains a focus on the Kendall-Frost Marsh and surrounding neighborhoods along the
Northern boundary of San Diego’s Mission Bay, because of a standing position with the Reserve
in that location, as well as the upcoming plans for redevelopment in the next Mission Bay Master
Plan.
Research for this study requires multiple strategies to encompass the qualitative analysis
of the social aspect of community outreach, as well as the analysis of coastal planning, which
combines qualitative observation with quantitative scientific data.For the purposes of this study,
there will be no in-depth analysis of quantitative scientific data, which includes tidal data,
species counts, and wetland ecology, but rather a discussion of its general significance. This
quantitative data is used to establish the knowledge-levels of the public, as well as explain the
unique ecological functions and requirements of the neighborhood. Qualitative data gathered
from surveys, interviews, and participant observation will generate data to establish public
opinion (level of satisfaction) of community outreach, public preferences for future community
outreach, and current levels of public knowledge.In order to establish the most effective
community outreach tools, it must first be determined how to quantify effectiveness. For the
purposes of this study, effectiveness will be determined on a scale that takes into account
frequency of outreach, educational value, adherence to public feedback, and effect on the
environment.
Conducting social research within a neighborhood setting requires a certain amount of
trust from the people, and this trust requires consistent, frequent time spent in the area. In order
to develop trust, the process of collecting the interview data has been ongoing since the start of
Fall Quarter with a Community Outreach Coordinator Internship position with the UCSD
Kendall-Frost Natural Reserve. During bi-weekly volunteer sessions for a restoration project on
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location on the Northern boundary of Mission Bay, I have had the opportunity to demonstrate to
the community my own stakes in their community, creating an increased rapport with
community members. My position as Community Outreach Coordinator has allowed for a more
open dialogue because, in being tasked with raising awareness and educating neighbors of the
Kendall-Frost Marsh, I have had the opportunity to see, first-hand, many of the community’s
concerns. Understanding these concerns serves two purposes: to determine what the public may
not be fully informed on, and in a larger scope, provide the planning board or department with
suggestions aid in the creation of new planning.
All interviews have been informal, and structured more as conversations, so as to allow
community members to speak freely about all aspects of the neighborhood, rather than limiting
them to specific questions. Certain people were chosen because they have voiced their opinions
on development of the area, yet have not had a public forum to adequately share these ideas. This
tactic, as well as my position within a community group has led to the possibility of bias,
however, in an effort to combat this possible bias, I made an effort to discuss the matter-at-hand
from multiple perspectives. In any conversation in which discussions of possible redevelopment
plans were a topic, all responses took into account economic, social, political, and environmental
standpoints, concerns, and stakes.
The survey asked basic demographic questions such as age and relationship to the
Kendall-Frost neighborhood in order to help gage who the local stakeholders are, as well as
determine who are the most willing and involved participants within the neighborhood. Survey
data collection relies on formatting all survey questions to be worded in ways that do not provide
suggestions for answers, but rather, allow participants to give information regarding knowledge
levels and community involvement.Information gathered from these surveys are used to measure
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the public’s perceptions regarding the marsh for this research project, as well as gather
information regarding the wants of the community for the purposes of planning within the realm
of the Kendall-Frost Reserve. Questions in these surveys focus on knowledge of ecological needs
of the area, current planning practices and laws of the area, and current restoration efforts. They
also emphasize the need for suggestions through open-ended questions in an effort to see how
current planning matches with current public and ecological need. Multiple people from the area,
as well as the University of California, San Diego participated in reviewing survey questions to
ensure that they did not suggest answers or opinion.
Surveysdid not include any identifying information, and were originally scheduled to be
distributed at community meetings such as homeowners’ association meetings, organization
meetings, and post-volunteer meetings. Although surveys were distributed after volunteer
sessions, they were unable to be distributed at homeowners’ association meetings due to preexisting legal matters. The first-annual combined “Rose Creek Festival” and “Love your
Wetlands Day” was held in February 2013 at the exact site being vetted for redevelopment. This
was an opportunity to gather survey responses from people who were not a part of a
neighborhood organization, but rather people who may be new to participating in community
events. In order to gather the largest number of representative responses, email surveys were sent
to those on the “Friends of Mission Bay Marshes” email list, as well as to various groups that
utilize the northern side of Mission Bay for recreation and social purposes. Access to a larger
pool of both email and personal survey respondents would have undoubtedly led to a more
representative sample.
Findings and Analysis:
Through a case study and analysis of the Kendall-Frost Marsh neighborhood on the
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Northern border of Mission Bay, the lack of community outreach has emerged as a significant
concern for residents of the area. Whether the respondent was associated with a community
group, or was an unaffiliated community member, there was a consensus reflecting the deficit of
community outreach within the neighborhood, especially regarding redevelopment planning for
this San Diego Coastal region.This section reviews the results of surveys, as well as analyzes
participant and resident observation in order to establish current community outreach and
education practiced in an effort to improve these practices, and eventually, planning practices in
the same coastal planning zone.
Before analyzing survey responses, there is reason to analyze the social interactions
between the interviewer (myself) and the public. After months of regular attendance at bi-weekly
community volunteer meetings, speaking with community members about the environmental and
urban planning issues involved in the area became the norm. People in this category had little
hesitation in responding to the surveys, either in person immediately following a volunteer
session, or online through a survey email link. In general, other members of the same community
had a similar response in level of comfort in having a conversation.
Participation altered markedly with any mention or notice of surveys, which poses an
interesting conversation between levels of satisfaction with current outreach quality and the lack
of willingness to participate. Although surveys were given in multiple locations adjacent to the
Kendall-Frost Marsh, over many periods of time, community members were generally unwilling
to complete the one-page, multiple-choice survey. Due to the lack of response from this manner
of attempted community outreach, it became necessary to rely more heavily on email responses
until more responses to physical copies of surveys can be processed. Unfortunately, this reliance
of email lists limits the demographic of responders because the mailing lists are for community
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groups more heavily involved in the environmental planning and restoration of the area that the
typical resident. Participant observation played a large role in the perception of these responses
because community outreach is only effective when there is a willingness to participate. This
demonstrates the need for an increase in the preferred methods of community outreach, as well
as an increase in participation.
Interactions among these groups, the University of California Natural Reserve System,
and the remaining portion of a relatively uninvolved neighborhood demonstrate the direct power
of community outreach and input.Likewise these interactions display how influence is forfeited
through a lack of participation. Such a dichotomy, by nature, allows for stakeholders with louder
voice to have a more prominent influence, whether or not it is in the best interest of the
neighborhood or environment. After this initial determination of who the target demographic is,
the study begins to delve into the level of environmental and ecological knowledge of the
reserve, and by association the surrounding neighborhoods. Refer to Figure 1 for responses to
survey questions pertaining to wetland knowledge levels for people around the Kendall-Frost
Neighborhood.
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Figure 1:
Figure 1displays responses
meant to gage the
respondent’s and public’s
level of wetland
knowledge. Most people
rated themselves as having
a basic knowledge.
These responses show a self-assigned rating of wetland functions as they relate to the KendallFrost marsh. There were very few “Minimal Knowledge” responses chosen, “Basic Knowledge”
was awarded slightly less than half of the responses, “Significant Knowledge” and “Detailed
Knowledge” maintained one just under one quarter of the responses respectively. This scale of
knowledge is significant because the people answering this email version of the survey are
community members who either regularly volunteer for at least one of many possible local
environmental preservation groups, or at the very least, subscribe to regular informative emails
and have seen the website. Most of the email responses would have come from those who are
associated with the “Friends of Mission Bay Marshes” community group, which has a website
with history of the area, wetland ecology information, local flora and fauna, wildlife
photography, and most importantly, contact information. Typically, in order to be placed on the
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email list, it would be necessary to either attend a volunteer session, or visit this web page. Based
on the general low levels of environmental knowledge, despite readily accessible information, it
can be concluded that a more direct approach to education community outreach is necessary to
keep resident informed and able to form opinions that can be mutually beneficial. Without a
proper base knowledge of the environment, both natural and built, there is a large possibility that
planning decisions may be potentially harmful to either the delicate coastal region or to nonnatural, local resources. Responses gathered on location had slightly more varied responses for
this particular section, however, more responses will need to be analyzed on both sides in order
to determine if there is any correlation between the manner in which a survey is given, and the
responses regarding levels of ecological knowledge. Surveys completed both via email and in
person will need to be further analyzed as more responses are returned.
Determining an overall level of local knowledge has been key in analyzing responses to
the other survey questions because they create a point of reference for responses to the
subsequent study questions to be measured against. It would not be entirely unusual, for instance,
for responses to the following question to show that people are unaware of redevelopment
suggestions in the area. Refer to Figure 2 for responses to survey questions pertinent to the
redevelopment of the Kendall-Frost neighborhood.
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Figure 2:
Figure 2 displays
responses to a poll
determining public opinion
on the redevelopment
plans for the Northern
boundary of Mission Bay
Park. Most responses
called for the restoration of
wetlands and an
educational visitor center.
Notably, there were only a few people who selected the response “I was unaware of any
proposals for redevelopment in the area”, signifying that there is not a general lack of knowledge
amongst community members, but rather a skewed knowledge. People in the area know more
about the built environment in which they live, and significantly less about the natural
environment which is vital to sustaining coastal regions, especially with the possibility of sea
level rise in the coming years due to Global Climate Change. Only one write-in response
mentioned the economics of completing environmentally beneficial redevelopment programs in a
coastal area, showing that most respondents are focused on their specific interests, rather than a
plan that would benefit all involved. For instance, there has been a majority response calling for
an area owned by Campland to be restored as wetlands. This is obviously the best-case scenario
for the wetland ecology, however, a complete eradication of this area would result in a seven-
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figure tax revenue loss from the campsites. Community outreach and education could have
greatly benefitted the residents in this scenario by giving them the economical, environmental,
social, and political knowledge necessary to making an informed decision that is beneficial to the
delicate coastal environment, as well as to those residing alongside these areas. Specific to the
Kendall-Frost neighborhood, outreach would be an important tool in promoting discussions
between people residing in the area, people using the area for recreational purposes, people
involved in community groups, and visitors to the area, as they all provide important insight and
financial resources to the neighborhood.
While the residents of the Kendall-Frost Area do not, as a whole, have a significant grasp
of local ecological functions, they are aware of the need for furthered education in this topic, and
have called for guided tours and educational programs. Acknowledging that there is a lack of
education in the area seems to promote the idea that residents are interested in and open to more
community outreach in their neighborhood, as shown in Figure 3. Survey respondents were
given the option to select multiple answers to questions, creating data that reflects all of the
wishes of the community, rather than the priorities of the community. Since there is such a strong
response to all of the answer choices, there is a possibility that changing this question type to
incorporate a scale of priority would improve the question and strengthen analysis of responses.
Another way to improve this question would be to give a wider variety of more specific response
choices instead of generalized response choices.
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Figure 3:
Figure 3 displays
responses on the
preferred method of
community
involvement and
education. Responses
were fairly evenly
chosen, and “Other”
responses were
generally specific
examples of the other
response choices.
After determining that people in the area are receptive to increased public outreach and
education, the survey continues in an effort to establish which method would be preferred by the
public. The thought is that following these suggestions will lead to an increased number of
informed residents because the people have specifically chosen them. Figure 4 illustrates the
preferences of survey respondents for how they would like to be kept updated on Kendall-Frost
area redevelopment plans, which is crucial to expanding future community outreach because
there is a greater likelihood that people will respond if their preferred method is being used.
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Figure 4:
Figure 4 displays
responses for public
preferences on community
outreach methods. The
majority of respondents
prefer email or Internet
surveys.
Discussions with those who were given the option between the email survey and the physical
survey revealed a possible explanation for why “Email/Internet Surveys” was chosen at such a
larger margin that the other responses. Responses to this particular inquiry mentioned that people
with clipboards are often perceived in a bad light, especially after an election year. Respondents
have no way of distinguishing a person giving an educational or community survey versus a
person asking for petition signatures or donations. Likewise, completing a survey is an
interruption to residents’ daily schedules, as was mentioned by many of the people who were
asked to complete the survey, and did not because they were with their families, exercising, or
even just enjoying their weekend. Email and Internet surveys, however, can be completed at the
respondents’ leisure with no pressure from the survey administrator. Despite this finding, it is
still important to reach people on-site who may not be on a mailing list in order to ensure a more
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comprehensive sampling of neighborhood opinion.
To further establish a point of reference for how changes to community outreach may
improve planning practices, respondents were asked to rate the quality of community outreach
specific to coastal region wetland practice in the area. While this may seem like an overly
specific topic, the entire neighborhood is built around a coastal ecosystem, making this the focal
point of planning practices in the area. Figure 5 displays respondents’ feelings towards the
quality of community outreach in the Kendall-Frost area.
Figure 5:
Figure 5 displays
responses rating the
quality of community
outreach in the KendallFrost Neighborhood.
Responses were
overwhelmingly negative,
with very few positive
responses. No
“Exceptional” responses
were chosen.
A majority of the responses for this question were negative, with most answers reflecting and
“Unsatisfactory” amount of community outreach, even for those associated with a community
organization. Roy Little, head of the “Friends of Mission Bay Marshes” community organization
attributes a lack of quality community outreachto the transient nature of the area. Through
further participant observation, this trend continued, as younger people were unlikely to respond
to surveys. Due to the location of this study, there is a large likelihood that these younger
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residents are college students from one of three nearby universities, and only maintain residence
for a maximum of a few years. Similarly the responsibility for community outreach has generally
been given to college interns who have a turnover rate of three to nine months. On the other side
of the spectrum, there were zero “Exceptional” responses, proving that there is a trend of
perceived and real lack of public outreach in the area. Further analysis of email and physical
surveys will be needed to determine the best course of action for improving community outreach
and coastal planning practices.
Conclusion:
The gap between planning and community outreach practices often leads to development that
does not provide benefits to the community as a whole. Specifically in the Kendall-Frost
neighborhood, the lack of outreach and education has lead to a lack of public influence in the
redevelopment planning of Northern Mission Bay.Survey results reflecting dissatisfaction
towards quality of outreach and education and the observed unwillingness of resident
participation prove that current outreach practices are insufficient. Improving these practices may
eventually lead to planning practices that take into account community concerns which, in this
coastal planning zone, often reflect environmental concerns. This, along with possible future
case studies in similar areas would serve to develop an argument supporting the idea that there
may be a positive correlation between the public’s involvement and the successful execution of
environmental planning in coastal and sensitive ecological areas. Eventually, the goal of this
study would be to establish public involvement as a requirement within the planning process in
order to maintain social and environmental justice within the built environment.
This objective of creating a greater conversation between public outreach and planning
should be considered necessary to the planning process to both ensure equity in planning and to
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streamline the planning process. Public input is a foundation for social and environmental justice
because it allows residents to express concern over how development and other related planning
practices will affect quality of life in an urban setting, as well as quality and preservation of
natural resources and spaces. The planning of space is not simply to provide amenities to people,
but rather to provide for the need of the current population without degrading the ability for
future generations to provide for their needs and enjoy the same natural spaces.
Without this type of outreach, the public cannot be adequately informed to make
suggestions to planners and politicians or decisions on redevelopment that often comes down to a
vote. This level of information does not bode well for the environmental aspects of planning
because people are generally unaware of what coastal ecosystems provide, as well as what they
require to survive. As seen in the Literature Review, there is a general disconnect between these
two fields of study that has not previously allowed for planning practices to both benefit the
environment and satisfy the wants and needs of the people. It is necessary for the public to
demand plans that adhere to environmentally friendly tactics in order to preserve the natural
environment, while at the same time creating a functional built environment. This interaction
between built and natural environments is instrumental to the planning of coastal regions because
coastal environments are delicate ecosystems in high demand for urbanization.Along with
urbanization of natural coastal areas, however, come the potential for damage to both the current
environment and the ever-changing coastal landscape. Apart from natural changes, manmade
changes such as coastal erosion from urbanization and sea level rise from Global Climate
Change. Planners will need to adapt and significantly alter planning practices in order to prevent
further damage and restore damaged areas to their more natural state. By including educational
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community outreach in the planning process, there is a stronger likelihood that prevention and
restoration through planning efforts will be supported and implemented.
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Forrest, Carol, J. 2012. “Environmental Public Involvement and Outreach: Tools and Commentary.”
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Groot, R.S. de. 1992. Functions of Nature: Evaluation for Nature in Environmental Planning,
Management and Decision Making.
Hart, R.A. 1997. Children’s Participation: The Theory and Practice of Involving Young Citizens in
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Leisher, Craig. “Measuring the Benefits and Costs of Community Education and Outreach in Marine
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Parnell , P. 2010. Spatial Patterns of Fishing Effort Off San Diego: Implications for Zonal
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