Moving the Middle Ahead

Abstract

Sustainable development came onto the American planning scene with a flourish in the 1990s. It was hailed as the new planning paradigm, and cases began appearing in the literature that highlighted communities making progress toward sustainability. Noticeably absent from the literature, however, has been an examination of whether the concept is resonating across the rest of the country, and if so, how. This study attempts to address that deficiency through a survey of planning directors across municipalities and counties in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Findings of the study indicate that a general familiarity with the concept of sustainable development exists but that it has not been accepted as a new or different standard for planning practice.