Numerous analyses have identified local land-use controls as the source of our continuing problems with residential segregation and environmental deterioration. Although recent efforts to resolve these problems have focused on policy-making in local government, the existing literature on land-use control provides little guidance for these efforts. In this context Situations and Strategies in American Land-use Planning meets a need. From case studies of regulatory processes in rural, rural-urban fringe, suburban and urban communities in Connecticut it develops an empirically grounded theory of land-use planning which has clear implications for reforming the local planning process. Thomas Rudel's book will be invaluable to all those involved in planning as well as being of interest to environmental and rural sociologists, geographers and political scientists concerned with local government.