An army of red shirts, slogan pin buttons, protest signs and opposition websites. These efforts describe the recent increase in opposition to infill redevelopment, rezoning and community planning.
Neighborhood outreach and citizen involvement is a bedrock principle in the development process. By ordinance, local jurisdictions require developers to notify and meet with neighbors for a variety of property entitlements such as general plan amendments, rezoning, site plan approval, variances, use permits and more. Cities and counties generally require some form of community outreach, and smart developers often engage neighborhood involvement early in the process. However, the increase in project opposition and the new methods employed by opponents require serious pause and study. Developers and zoning attorneys must learn to strike the right balance of listening and responding to neighborhood concerns while positioning their project for development success. Read more…