Not in my Backyard!? Lessons from a Community Conflict.

We present a case study of a local community debate about a land development proposal. The debate was not amicably resolved. It entrained an encampment, a lawsuit, a local electoral upheaval, and sustained outrage. It was a serious community conflict. Through a set of converging interviews and field visits with key actors from throughout the community, researchers reconstructed what happened, gathered diverse views about how and why it happened, and reviewed the shorter- and longer-term outcomes of the conflict. As can be true in significant conflicts, all participants can be seen as rational and well-intentioned, and some of the outcomes are clearly positive for the community. But the cost was high in terms of civility, trust, and community coherence. Implications include both insights into, and opportunities to re-conceive and redesign, local governance and planning policies, practices, and information support.