Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.U.R.P.
Degree Name
Master of Urban & Reg Planning (M.U.R.P.)
Degree Granting Department
School of Public Affairs
Major Professor
Evangeline Linkous, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Elizabeth Strom, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kevin Martyn, Ph.D.
Keywords
Adaptation, Climate change, Hurricane evacuation, Sea level rise
Abstract
This research examines Florida local government policies that address residential development in the places where people, property, and infrastructure are most at risk from both coastal as well as inland storm surges with a purpose of identifying policy norms and variations. In Florida, these at-risk areas are categorized as Coastal High Hazard Areas (CHHA). Under Florida Statutes, the CHHA is defined as the area below the elevation of a Category 1 storm surge line and are those places most likely to be significantly damaged or submerged by sea water. Florida requires that local governments designate CHHA areas within the local comprehensive plan and limit development within CHHA in accordance with hurricane evacuation and transportation capacity. Using the theory of coastal management, this study was carried out to answer vital questions about Florida local government coastal planning, with a specific investigation of how residential density is managed. A mixed methods approach was used including a spatial/demographic analysis and review of all Florida local government comprehensive plans. The results indicate that Florida local governments use a wide variety of approaches to regulating density in the CHHA. Counties and cities differ in the dominant approaches used. Based on the analysis used, it is unclear how property values impact local government CHHA policies for residential density.
Scholar Commons Citation
Agha, Abdul Samad, "Density in the Coastal High Hazard Area: How Florida Local Governments Regulate New Residential Development in Flood Zones" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10150
