Date of Award

2000

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Community Planning (MCP)

Department

Community Planning

First Advisor

Farhad Atash

Abstract

The goal of this research project sought to evaluate resident's opinions concerning a variety of different developments, with each development representing specific elements of a proposed village center development in Western Cranston. The project utilized a technique developed by Anton Nelessen called Visual Preference Survey. VPS is a tool planners may use to present a vision of a plan to the public. It's meant to be used in the very preliminary stages of the public planning process, because this is when public participation is most important. In the context of this report, the idea is to garner public support by developing consensus through a visioning process.

In addition, the report contains a defined methodology explaining the steps taken to complete a Visual Preference Survey. The report contains a statistical analysis, findings, recommendations and a conclusion.

The main theme of the study examines residents opinions in effort to synthesis how the elements should come together for the proposed village center's development. By popular opinion, even local Rhode Islanders think of high density when talking about Cranston. The fact is, nearly 45 percent of Cranston's land area is of a relatively low density and lies west of route 295. The two halves are generally comprised of different zoning densities and should be developed differently. Western Cranston is suburban to almost rural in character. This project set out to gather public input, and explore whether or not VPS and public inclusion -early on in the planning process- can provide guidance as to how the village center should be developed, and what is must include.

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