Some Collaboration Successes

 

Byram, New Jersey

 

Conflict:
Neighbors vs. planning board about traffic from proposed project

Solution:
Relationships improved. Roads narrowed. Density reduced. Walkways and park added.

Abstract:
In Byram collaboration revealed ideas that 1) revised a conventional twelve lot subdivision to include a walkway that made a loop through the project connecting two adjacent neighborhoods; 2) created a totlot park near a small hemlock grove and rock outcrop that was to be blasted away for the new road; 3) narrowed the new road to follow the existing contours of the land so that the hemlock grove would be spared and become part of the park.

Testimonials:

“They had been battling for almost 2 years. There was a developer, two sets of neighbors and the planning board. Everybody was pretty frustrated. When we started this process, no one was really talking to each other or knowing what to do. The big issue was that no one was talking to anybody!. I mean feelings were that hurt! The planning board was in the hot seat. We said, ‘Well, it’s our community; what if we do it this way!’ We met at one of the neighbors’ houses with neighbors from both sides of the development and the developer and we got to know each other. In six months it was resolved! We relocated buildings and put in lots of walking paths and greenspace. It's going to enhance the whole community; it's going to be a really pretty development, and it's going to work!" Audrey O’Connell, collaborative planning participant

“We had been locked in a difficult, disjointed situation with alot of misunderstanding. With this process we found ourselves sitting in someone’s dining room discussing the issues calmly. It was a whole other ballpark! In a private setting with a relaxed atmosphere, they can see who you are, you see who your neighbors are, and you address each others concerns. It’s much easier and much more fruitful. Now we are on excellent terms. There is faith and trust on both sides. The greatest thing is when you sit down with the neighbors you get a feeling about those people who will be participating in the process at a public meeting. For us, we actually saved some money because of what they wanted to see developed there. We don’t have to do the wider roads mandated by the municipality. We have smaller roads and a little park and sidewalks. They came up with some good ideas that are saleable items. So, we learned alot, and we benefited.”

"The best thing about collaboration is that it asks us to play a real role in the development of our community. We shared the table, made friends, and spoke freely with the developer and local officials. We made ourselves a powerful part of the process so we had a real chance to help design good development. People share very similar ideas about what a community should be. This was our best chance to achieve it - and we did!" Margaret McGarrity, Environmental Commission Chairperson