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OCR for page 17
Chapter 3: The Critical Roles of
Groundwork and Collaboration
Freight facility developers generally prefer to work with communities Freight facility developers
that understand the competitive landscape of the freight industry. generally prefer to work with
These communities come to the table with an understanding of the communities that understand
company's goals, as well as how the company's and community's the competitive landscape of the
goals align. They are able to suggest proposals that help reduce freight industry.
initial investment or operating expense or at least to knowledgeably
demonstrate the benefits of specific sites. This provides the most
amenable environment for a win-win outcome. Such communities
recognize that alignment of public and private sector goals yields Ideally, a community
benefits for both long into the future. positioning itself for freight
uses... will have developed a
Companies begin discussions with government and economic vision, economic development
development organizations at various times depending on their stage strategy, land use plan,
in the location process. The more sure the company is about where transportation plan, and zoning
they wish to be, the more likely it is that they will directly contact regulations that explicitly permit
officials at the local level (county, city, or other) and begin feasibility and support these facilities in a
discussions. If the search is regional (or at an early stage), then the variety of ways.
company may decide instead to speak with state or regional officials.
Ideally, a community positioning itself for freight uses
(i.e., industrial or freight facility development) will
have developed a vision, economic development
strategy, land use plan, transportation plan, and zoning
regulations that explicitly permit and support these
facilities in a variety of ways. This also means that
such plans will have been developed in such a way
that areas designated for freight uses are either not
in conflict with other community uses and residential
neighborhoods or that a certain amount of conflict has
been recognized, identified, and mitigation proposed.
This type of preparation may be referred to as "laying
the groundwork."
Freight Facility Location Selection: A Guide for Public Officials 17
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Communities and regions can also help significantly in the industrial
or freight facility development process by proactively managing
the interaction with both stakeholders at all levels and with the
broader public. These activities can result in "collaboration."
Government and appointed officials can work with local interests to
keep everyone informed, involved, and coordinated. For example,
they can ameliorate community concerns by ensuring that the
community has a vision that is broadly based, has been developed
in a collaborative way, and that calls for land use development that
supports the necessary tax base. Such a vision and plans will also
transparently acknowledge potential impacts and suggest ways to
avoid or mitigate those impacts. Proactive planning will also serve
to educate the public on the benefits that such development can bring
to the community at large, and demonstrate how the community can
work with the new development to reduce the impact on residents to
the greatest extent possible.
The concepts of proactivity (planning, being proactive) and the
building of collaboration particularly with the public deserve
extra emphasis here. All local and regional planners want vital,
attractive, and solvent communities. It is also true that this goal often
requires very hard work in terms of solid strategic thinking and the
courage to make controversial decisions or propose controversial
alternatives. One key factor in reducing controversy is education of
the public to the concept of "freight as a good neighbor." Freight
is often seen as a "bad guy" contributing to noise, congestion, or
unpleasant vistas. While there is no getting around the potential
effects of freight uses, it is also true that freight facilities that are
well-sited and well-planned can be a great benefit to a community
in a variety of ways, from the development of an employment base
to tax income potential. The more the public understands about
the tradeoffs of land development, the more a community can be
proactive in strategy, rather than reactive to controversy.
Proactive planning and targeting of specific freight facility
development helps to provide a cost-benefit framework of tax base
and jobs to ameliorate traffic and other land use development issues.
There are many issues on which residents or others may oppose such
18 Freight Facility Location Selection: A Guide for Public Officials
