Letter to the Editor: Development Projects Require Ethical, Effective Public Engagement

Dear Editor:

Development issues are polarizing the communities of three South Bay beach cities: the waterfront in Redondo Beach; the oil-drilling project in Hermosa Beach; and, the mall expansion in Manhattan Beach – all sharing common characteristics of public disputes.  

First, based on competing and strongly held values, all entail divergent beliefs about what is right or wrong, what is just or unjust. Second, they all involve many parties with varying levels and types of expertise, power and accountability. Third, all are employing traditional governmental procedures, exacerbating and hardening positions, resulting in less than optimal results for all concerned.

Proven alternatives are interventions designed to move opponents from defending positions to seeking consensus through problem solving and collaboration furthering mutual interests.  

For example, in 2002, the Manhattan Beach City Council utilized a “charette” – a formalized community engagement process – to decide on the configuration of the Metlox Project, transforming the former Metlox Potteries site into enhancing and vibrating its downtown. A key element of success was the council’s commitment to consider seriously the recommendations generated by the participants – a significant departure from its tedious public hearings, leaving the community divided and alienated.

Further keys to effective and ethical public engagement include inclusion of all parties; transparency about its sponsors, design and how decision makers will use the results; informed participant dialogue; and, feedback by local officials on the ultimate decisions to the process participants and the broader public, with a description of how the public input was considered and used.

To developers, these outreach processes can overcome project opposition that is often poorly informed and fearful of the unknown consequences of development.  For community residents, citizen engagement offers the chance to learn about the dynamics of development and the significance of public policies, and to contribute to designs of projects that will affect their quality of life.

Ultimately, however, the use of citizen engagement processes require leadership by the Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach city councils to break development logjams or else suffer circumstances fraught with political perils.

Sincerely,

Edward C. Caprielian, Ph.D.

Manhattan Beach