UC Berkeley

This dissertation examines the local and regional politics of state-mandated sustainability planning using a survey and case studies of regions in California post-SB 375. Data collection included interviews with local and regional actors in the Bay Area and the Los Angeles region on multiscalar cooperation and a survey of local planning directors in four regions (Sacramento, Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego) on local political and capacity constraints on implementation. It finds unevenness in the local implementation of the law’s Sustainable Communities Strategies within and across regions, but that greater than anticipated levels of cooperation occurred between cities and county level agencies. A variety of interpretations of sustainability and a broad range of incentives are at work in local planning that contributes to regional emission reductions. Suburban and rural areas face different challenges but potentially large opportunities for reducing vehicle emissions, yet their work during the first round of SCSs occurred largely under the radar of regional incentives. Regional sustainability planning is having some impact at the local level, but that state incentives and mandates are a primary factor in local smart growth planning. This dissertation contributes to understandings of plan implementation, regional governance, and the politics of sustainability planning.