Spatial Patterns in Development Regulation: Tree Preservation Ordinances of the DFW Metropolitan Area

• Main Author: Cox, Carissa
• Other Authors: Lyons, Donald
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2011
• Subjects: Tree preservation; urban rural gradient; hot spot rendering; preservation policy; DFW; ordinances; internal evaluation
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84194/

Land use regulations are typically established as a response to development activity. For effective growth management and habitat preservation, the opposite should occur. This study considers tree preservation ordinances of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area as a means of evaluating development regulation in a metropolitan context. It documents the impact urban cores have on regulations and policies throughout their region, demonstrating that the same urban-rural gradient used to describe physical components of our metropolitan areas also holds true in terms of policy formation. Although sophistication of land use regulation generally dissipates as one moves away from an urban core, native habitat is more pristine at the outer edges. To more effectively protect native habitat, regional preservation measures are recommended.