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; f� `on't worry if �ou are missing yotzr favorite science-fiction show to conduct a public hearing at the Planning Commission. You may be htcky enough ta see shape-shiFters in real life. If you are consictering a land use �hange that will affec[ a residential neighborhood, perfectly normal, rational people will grow fangs and acquire the abiliry to spit fire. Changes in the neigh- borhood spark a primitive reaction in defense of hotne and family. As a plan- ning commissioner, you need to keep your cool when confronted by angry neighbors, and recognize the difference between legitimate concerns and irra- tional fears. You need a nose for NIMBYs. Here are some poant§ to remember: l. NINIBYism (Not In My Bccch Xc�rd) is h� ;:-�'n �2aftire, but sometimes yoz� need to � :;ove it. The most common neigh- boi-iiood concerns are: "Don't increase traffic past my house. The children witl be a[ risk." "Don't allow smaller lots or smaller homes in my neighborhood. My property value could decline." "I was told that this street would never go through, this land would never be devel- oped, etc. How can you betray these prornises?" Concerned citizens are right to be alert to neighborhood threats, but NTMBYs carry ic to an e�tteme, exagger- ating the threats or refusing to accept �IosSarya NIMBY: Not in my back yard LULU: Locally ttnwanted land use NOPE: Not on planet earth , G�OMBY: Get oizt of my back yard NIM�Y: Not in trty elecrion year �ANA: Build absolutiely nothing , c�rhere near.anything FEATURE by Chris Robbins something that's a noxmal part of com- munity life. Perhaps they are beside themselves because they moved to their current Iocation to escape development that is now inexorably following [hem. Perhaps they are secretly panicking at the idea of outsiders in their territory, whether it be "those people" moving in down the block, or motorists driving past their hames to get to anatlier destination. Your job is to look out for the whole community: townhouse and apartment dwellers as well as single famiiy resi- dents, and people Iiving on through streets as well as those who want to live on dead-ends and force the traffic on[o other streets. Ask c�uestzons or have staff find the information you need to evalu- ate the concerns. Is [he traffic going to be greater than the standards for the street? Is the proposed land use so noxio�s that ie would redu�e property values, or is it simply something different from what`s there? Were the "promises" made by a city representa[ive or by a realtor? If the concerns don't hold up, don't feel guiity about voting in favor oE the project. 2. NIMBYs can have their positive side. No one eise is so highly motivated to do research into the issues and the his- tory of the area. Sometimes in their quest to stop a project, people will uncover informatian rhat does help your decision-malcing, for example: a previous owner put a �ovenant on the land that restricts its use, or the project wa�ld damage a unique environmental resour�e. Sometimes there's an alterna- tive that triakes more sense. If these con- cerns have substance, respond to chem; don't treat a groject as a"done deal." 3. Address concerns in a realistic way. The usual outcome of contentious pro- jects is that the objections are addressed through conditions or modifications to the project. This may not satisfy the opponents, but it shows respect for their concerns. You should insist on an enforceable way to ensure that the condi- tions or modifications are actually put into place. �oo often a bone is tossed to the concerned citizens, only to be pulled away again as soon as the project is under way. 4. Don't tet your own emotions get the better of you. It's easy to feei sorry for [he beleaguered neighbars and do something that's not in the interest of ehe communz- ty as a whole. It's also easy to react the other way and dig in your heels in response to annoying and pushy people, just to show them yau can't be bullied. Try to separate the persor�alieies fronrz the substance of what they're saying. With a good nose, you will be able to tell when people cease rrzaking legztimate points and slide into NIMBYistxt. Make a note of the good points, and ignore the rest. � Chris Robbins has bee�t ��az3 � a member of the Noa•th- � � field, Nliilnesota (po�uta- r �,'��'� tion, 17,000) P�anning � � �' �� � � � � t _, Coinmission Jar' the past � :� � ., �;� fottv yenrs. .She is nn envi- �� _ �� � < ronmental planne7� who has �--"�``��%; _ worhect for coilsulting �� JY' firrns and non-piofits in tJte ; T -� pasf. Chrts is cetrr�endy an enviro�7menteil planning interrt for the City of Mtttnetonha, � si�bw�b of Minneapolis. PLA[VIV[IVG COMMISSIONERS JOURNAL / NUMBER 51 / SUMMER Z003 ) �..v.. . tL � �