NIMBY to YIMBY

As Georgia’s population continues to grow throughout the Atlanta Metropolitan and beyond, so have those who oppose this growth, which urban planners tend to term NIMBYs or ‘Not in My Backyard.’   NIMBYs oppose any new development in their small towns, and rightfully so, because many subdivisions and developments can be built fast and as low quality or may displace previous long-term residents.  Therefore, how, as Urban Planners, can we turn the NIMBYs to the YIMBYs or ‘Yes in My Backyard’?

To do so there are various factors to consider:

- listen to residents – use surveys, social media, charrettes, and other engagement tools to understand community concerns;

- acknowledge and address these concerns and work towards a solution that satisfies both parties;

- inform the community on the benefits of the proposal;

- build trusting relationships by working with local authorities and groups and local leaders; and

- focus on shared goals and priorities compared to conflicting values.