Date of Graduation
Spring 5-16-2025
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)
College/School
College of Arts and Sciences
Department/Program
Environmental Management
First Advisor
Simon Scarpetta
Abstract
Amid the current climate crisis, enhancing urban green spaces (UGS), parks, and open spaces with climate change adaptation (CCA) as a strategic pillar in San Francisco’s urban planning is an essential strategic pillar to develop more resilient cities. However, in complex bureaucratic landscapes, integrating CCA strategies that meet project goals while ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement presents a challenge. This project presents the identification, development, and application of a holistic decision-making tool (DMT) in the form of a Pugh matrix/decision matrix and with a focus on urban planning in San Francisco, California. Key decision-making criteria are identified and weighted through a comparative analysis of recent UGS case studies and evaluation of regulatory policies and guidelines. The final DMT enables urban planners and developers to make informed, timely decisions about prioritizing CCA strategies. The case study analysis highlighted core criteria but also revealed a lack of ability to standardize weighting due to variability within San Francisco’s UGS development landscape. Existing policies and guidelines vary in effectiveness and should be incorporated using a hierarchical approach; however, determining which documents to prioritize can delay the planning process. The proposed DMT offers a comprehensive set of criteria, a subset of which can be standardized and applied across UGS projects. The remaining criteria are adaptable to account for unique project factors such as site maintenance, cost, and governance structures. The DMT serves as a resource to support decision-making efforts and should be used alongside the provided quick guide summarizing potential CCA strategies for UGS development and improvement.
Recommended Citation
Maassen, Holley Anne, "Evaluating San Francisco urban green spaces and policy to inform future decision-making: how climate change adaptation strategies can be prioritized and incorporated in urban park design and planning through a decision-making tool" (2025). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1886.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1886
