Green Belt Planning in Edinburgh and Baltimore: a Cross-Site
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GREEN BELT PLANNING IN EDINBURGH AND BALTIMORE: A CROSS-SITE COMPARISON A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Erin G. McCarty June 2007 This thesis titled GREEN BELT PLANNING IN EDINBURGH AND BALTIMORE: A CROSS-SITE COMPARISON by ERIN G. MCCARTY has been approved for the Department of Geography and the College of Arts and Sciences by _________________________________________________________ Geoffrey L. Buckley Associate Professor of Geography __________________________________________________________ Benjamin M. Ogles Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Abstract MCCARTY, ERIN G., M.A., June 2007. Geography GREEN BELT PLANNING IN EDINBURGH AND BALTIMORE: A CROSS-SITE COMPARISON (107 pp.) Director of Thesis: Geoffrey L. Buckley Policy makers continue to develop ways to control sprawl, but the problem is growing. Many studies offer evaluations of current planning efforts or suggest new ones; however, few have sought to explain the evolution of sprawl, especially as it affects open space planning. This study compares the creation and current conditions of open space planning in Edinburgh, Scotland and Baltimore, Maryland. The research specifically focuses on the Green Belt around Edinburgh, Scotland and addresses several open space management programs in and around Baltimore. Results show that history, government structure, and adherence to a regional plan achieve open space preservation goal. Additionally, the future of each city’s open space may be dependent upon their approach to planning. This study is part of the ongoing Baltimore Ecosystem Study, a multifaceted, long-term ecological research project devoted to understanding how cities function as ecosystems. Approved: ______________________________________________________________ Geoffrey L. Buckley Associate Professor of Geography Dedication For my parents, Richard and Florence McCarty, my sisters, Ashley, Annie, and Maggie, and my brother, Henry. Acknowledgements There are many organizations and individuals whose help made this research possible. I would like to thank the Cockburn Association in Edinburgh and Director Moira Tasker for providing a base for my research. Thanks also to the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust, specifically Duncan Campbell and Charlie Cunning, who took the time to talk with me and point me in the right direction. In Baltimore, Mary Logan at the Regional Information Center for the Baltimore Metropolitan Council played a pivotal role in providing historic regional plans for the city, and patiently answered many questions. Thank you also to Guy Hager and Donald Outen who gave me much of their time as well. I would also like to express deep gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Geoffrey L. Buckley who gave unfailing guidance, and to the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and the US Forest Service Northeastern Research Station, who provided the funding to make this study possible. Finally, many thanks to Danielle Aiello for providing much needed morale support and to Renée Rigdon for her cartographic expertise. 6 Table of Contents Page Abstract............................................................................................................................... 3 Dedication........................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. 5 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 8 List of Figures..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter One ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Research Areas........................................................................................................ 12 Edinburgh ................................................................................................................. 12 Baltimore................................................................................................................... 14 1.3 Drawing Comparisons between Cities.................................................................... 16 1.4 Research Questions................................................................................................ 17 1.5 Methodology.......................................................................................................... 17 1.6 Chapter Outline...................................................................................................... 19 Chapter Two...................................................................................................................... 21 2.1 Sprawl .................................................................................................................... 21 2.2 Green Belts............................................................................................................. 24 2.3 Regional Planning.................................................................................................. 27 Chapter Three.................................................................................................................... 30 3.1 Intro......................................................................................................................... 30 3.2 History of a City..................................................................................................... 31 3.3. The Influence of City Planners .............................................................................. 35 3.4. The Influence of Central Government ................................................................... 38 3.5 Funneling Down to Edinburgh................................................................................ 40 3.6 A Vision Realized.................................................................................................. 43 3.7. The Government and the Green Belt ..................................................................... 49 3.8 NGO Response........................................................................................................ 53 3.9. Summary................................................................................................................ 57 Chapter Four ..................................................................................................................... 60 4.1 Intro........................................................................................................................ 60 4.2 History.................................................................................................................... 60 4.3 The Olmsted and National Forest Plans................................................................. 65 4.4 Transportation and Development........................................................................... 68 4.5 Baltimore Regional Planning Council ................................................................... 69 7 4.6 Modern Day Preservation Efforts .......................................................................... 76 4.7 Baltimore County: A case study in the region...................................................... 79 4.8 The Region as a Whole.......................................................................................... 83 4.9 Summary................................................................................................................ 89 CHAPTER FIVE .............................................................................................................. 93 5.1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 93 5.2 Future Research ..................................................................................................... 97 Works Cited ...................................................................................................................... 99 8 List of Tables Page Table 1: Census Data for Edinburgh and Lothians ………………………………….…..14 Table 2: Census Data for Baltimore Region …………………………………………….15 Table 3: Comparing City Statistics between Edinburgh and Baltimore ………...………16 Table 4: Population change in Edinburgh ……………………………………………….33 Table 5: Evolution of the Garden City …………………………………………………..37 Table 6: Organizations Involved in Green Belt Protection ……………………………...55 Table 7: Baltimore City’s Population Change …………………………………………..62 Table 8: Summary of Open space in the Baltimore Region, 1960 ……………………...72 Table 9: Conservation Needs Inventory Summary, 1960 ……………………………….73 9 List of Figures Page Figure 1: Map of Edinburgh and Lothians ………………………………………………12 Figure 2: Map of Baltimore and Surrounding Region …………………………………..14 Figure 3: Map Showing the Gradual Expansion of Edinburgh ………………………….34 Figure 4: Edinburgh’s Green Belt in 1999 ………………………………………………47 Figure 5: Evolution of Edinburgh’s Green Belt …………………………………………48 Figure 6: Edinburgh City Council’s Vision 2020 ……………………………………….51 Figure 7: Edinburgh Green Belt Trust’s 2005-2006 Projects ………….………………..57 Figures 8 – 11: Photos of Edinburgh ……………………………………………………59