» Monthly Archives: June 2009
Clock is ticking on Florida zoning entitlements; Ballot question could change development in Sunshine State
By Tom AhernSenior Vice President, Capital Markets & Health CareThe Saint Consulting GroupSlow Growth and No Growth activists have finally succeeded in their efforts to place on the statewide ballot an measure that could radically alter the development process in Florida.The so-called Hometown Democracy initiative petition, which fell short of the required signatures needed for ...
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Cracking the DNA code for NIMBY generals – what makes a good opposition leader
By Jay Vincent,
Senior Vice President, Energy, The Saint Consulting Group
Even an unruly mob needs some direction, some cohesion and someone to corral members to stay on message to stop an unwanted development from coming to town. Especially in these tough economic times when projects translate to local jobs and economic development dollars. According ...
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Back by popular demand — How to kill a development project in 10 easy steps
Five years ago a tongue-in-cheek guide to killing development projects was published in the Real Property Section Review of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, written by Robert I. McMurry and Dwight H. Merriam, who are respected developer's counsel and land use lawyers. Mr. Merriam has kindly agreed to let The Saint Report reprint the ...
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Saint Model Outcome – politics of planning wins referendum to protect development
By Jay Vincent,
Regional Vice President - Midwest, The Saint Consulting Group
In our continuing series of Saint Model Outcomes, this case study looks at retail redevelopment and campaigning against an opposition referendum.
Our client filed plans to build a retail complex with a 65,000-SF anchor, along with various retail out-parcels of 20,000-SF. The site slated for this ...
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Saint Model Outcome – coal-fired power plant must respond to local concerns
By Jay Vincent
Senior Vice President for Energy, The Saint Consulting Group
Our third look this week at Saint Model Outcomes from our experience in land use politics focuses on the proposed expansion of an existing hybrid (coal-fired and waste-to-energy) power plant.
The expansion included modifying the facility’s fuel blend to burn more waste, including tires, and ...
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Saint Model Outcome: counter opposition to urban renewal, find your own support
By Jay Vincent,
Regional Vice President- Midwest, The Saint Consulting Group
In the second in a series of case studies, this Saint Model Outcome looks at urban redevelopment.
For five years our client tried to secure approval to redevelop an entire city block of retail and commercial office space. Community leaders had initially favored the redevelopment and expansion, ...
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Saint Model Outcome — a wind farm case study on how to build community support
By Jay Vincent Senior Vice President, Energy, The Saint Consulting Group Actions speak louder than words. We talk about how Saint Consulting employs land use politics to win difficult planning permits. We thought some examples of case studies from our 25 years of fighting planning battles could provide some action. Today we start a series ...
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Local outcry over quarry “hell”; may reason prevail to address concerns
By Chris Hopkins,Senior Vice President, Aggregates and Mining, The Saint Consulting Group More often than not, local residents overreact to news of new development, especially new quarries and mines, why? Let's look at the dismay of villagers in Oxfordshire, England, who reflect the challenges that aggregate firms must learn to meet in order to survive. ...
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Planning glossary from Planetizen – for GOOMBAs, NOPErs and doczilla addicts
It may be four years old, but this Planetizen feature on the wacky world of plannerese still provides a useful glossary of terms that go well beyond NIMBY -- such as doczilla, GOOMBA and NOPE.
Thanks to Ric Stephens and Planetizen for this delectable feast of plannerese jargon that has not gone stale since it first ...
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Stormwater runoff can be disastrous for environment, developers have key role
By Katie Lewis, ParalegalThe Saint Consulting Group Stormwater discharge is generated by precipitation and runoff from land, pavement, building rooftops and other surfaces. The water runoff carries pollutants such as oil and grease, chemicals, metals and bacteria to water sources. It's not a pretty sight. These pollutants are then discharged into drinking water, wetlands ...
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