Urban Growth Management and PolicyBeing an urban planner is an exciting career field to work in. There are countless opportunities to create innovative ideas that can transform a struggling city into a beautiful and exciting place for residents and tourists. However, when it comes to managing urban growth, planning becomes a more complicated process. Part of the problem is the difficulty of balancing the task of managing growth and politics. Planners must find sensible ways to manage growth while being mindful of the politics that interfere with planning. Growth management is an important part of urban planning. As defined by John M. Levy, author of Contemporary Urban Planning, growth management is defined as “the regulation of the amount, timing, location, and character of development” (Levy, 2013). The definition set by Levy shows the need for planning and its execution to be done with integrity. Growth management leaders must consider many different factors before making a final decision. This consideration must be taken into account for each sector of planning. As Levy explains, “growth management programs are often strongly motivated by environmental considerations” (Levy, 2013). However, growth management can also be seen as a tool to protect the interests of a community's citizens. Managing growth gives the community a voice. This requires planners to listen to what the community thinks should be done to their neighborhood and how it affects them. Timothy S. Chaplain and Charles E. Connerly are the authors of Attitudes Toward Growth Management in Florida. This publication examines support in 1985 and 2001 for growth management in Florida. Chaplain and Connerly...middle of document...moderate, weak, or not applicable” (Robert F. Durant, 1993). Managing growth is a difficult task for planners. This type of planning can affect communities for better or worse depending on the decisions made. Managing growth involves multiple layers of local and federal government involvement, which can be upsetting for citizens. Factors such as government involvement make growth planning highly political. The implications of managing growth make it very important to make wise planning choices. References Connerly, T. S. (2004). Attitudes toward managing growth in Florida. Journal of the American Planning Association, 443-452.Levy, J.M. (2013). Contemporary urban planning. Upper Sadle River: Pearson. Robert F. Durant, L. W. (1993). The politics of growth management reform in the United States. Review of political study, 30-54.