Feb
28
“The way to keep NIMBY sentiment in check is to make sure that public forums are wide open, with a variety of civic activists involved so that no particular interest groups prevail over the public interest. That should be the primary criteria in evaluating all these development proposals,” Clem told the AFP. Patrick Slevin, a Tallahassee, Fla.,-based consultant and former municipal mayor in the Sunshine State, said Augusta County officials would be well advised to pay close attention to these points being raised by residents.
Read the full article: Slevin Quoted Augusta Free Press
Feb
28
Project opponents come in many colors, but there are two methods to reduce their effectiveness, according to Patrick Slevin, founder and CEO of the Tallahassee, Fla.–based Slevin Group, which develops public relations strategies for major builders. He is also the former mayor of Safety Harbor, Fla., which he says often shut down projects because of opponents’ loud voices.
Read the Full Article: Big Builder Magazine Interviews Patrick Slevin
Feb
28
A decade ago, projects were nearly guaranteed governmental approval if the rules and laws were followed, Slevin says. Not any more. He quoted Tampa attorney Ron Weaver, who says about 60% of projects now survive the public hearing process, and that figure is expected to decline as land planners continue to attempt to fly in under the radar. Homeowners and activists fight projects for various reasons, including how they expect a project to affect their quality of life, the environment or traffic congestion, he says, adding: “NIMBYism is emotional, illogical and non-linear.”
Download the full article: Slevin Featured in Gulf Coast Business Review