Not in My Front Yard: Overcoming Public Resistance to Urban GSI Retrofit Projects

Abstract

Retrofitting dense urban neighborhoods with green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) requires early and ongoing outreach to the affected public. Add in a combined sewer overflow (CSO) control project that is under a federal consent decree, giving affected neighbors little choice about the upcoming changes to their neighborhood, and a troubled history with large-scale GSI projects in the city, and public outreach takes on greater importance. The King County Wastewater Treatment Division took on its first GSI project for CSO control in two Seattle neighborhoods. Community outreach on the project design began in earnest in 2011. The project, which is nearing the completion of its first construction season, has overcome many challenges and has learned lessons about how to effectively work with the affected community on large-scale urban GSI projects. This paper focuses on the outreach tools and techniques employed during the design phase that built community acceptance of the project and enabled a smooth transition into construction and operation. Examples include taking advantage of creative educational opportunities, building relationships and trust, understanding and speaking to specific concerns about retrofit GSI projects, employing effective outreach techniques (going beyond public meetings), and building neighborhood trust in the construction team. These lessons are applicable to any agency or developer that wants to implement GSI in a dense, heavily used public space where public concerns could slow or stop the project.