English, Michael Mangan, June 1981 - APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY IN URBAN PLANNING: THE CITY OF SAFETY HARBOR MUNICIPAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Abstract: This thesis describes the application of anthropological and planning methodology to the development of an urban planning process in the City of Safety Harbor, Florida. Its primary focus is the interface between academically acquired skills and the political and planning realities of a city. Three basic aspects of the City's planning process are described in detail. They are the development history of the city, the initial planning environment in the city, and the process by which the city's comprehensive plan was developed. The effects of each of these aspects of the city's environment are discussed and related to the comprehensive plan finally produced by the city. The thesis examines the relationship between a community socio- cultural environment and community acceptance of the urban planning process, assuming that the process is representative of new community cultural values. The descriptive style of the thesis depends upon experiential observation. Both anthropological and urban planning skills were employed in assessing political events and social behavior. The literature cited throughout the text demonstrates observation of similar phenomena in other communities. Examples of similar findings by other social science researchers suggest common patterns implicit in the process of urban development. The thesis also explores the usefulness of traditional planning skills supplemented by the perspective of urban anthropology. The development of a citizen participation process justified by an anthropological perspective was evaluated qualitatively in terms of subsequent political and community support. The thesis concludes that the process was successful in develo- ping support for the adoption and implementation of a comprehensive plan. The concept of interdisciplinary attention to the citizen participation component of urban planning was found to be useful and effective within the limits of the experience described. .