M.

Ramachandra Redy
15110012
B.Arch - V

Article Review
“Planning in the Face of Conflict” from the Journal of the American Planning
Association (1987) by John Forester

In the book ‘The City Reader’, Richard T. Legates introduces the aims and discrepancies in the
craft of urban planning of a city. The editor initially briefs the readers about the people involved
in the process and how all social hierarchies have differing views and expectations from a city.
There exists a certain divide between the theoretical and the practical that many planners and
contractors face and only a few have been able to bridge that gap. John Forester, a prominent
architect theoretician and scholar was one of the few who got himself involved with the
practicalities and people in the planning process. A city and regional planning professor at
Cornell University, Forester is actively involved in mediating conflicts related to planning in the
region of Tompkins County, New York. He has also authored several books on more
psychological and smaller details of planning like Dealing with Differences: Dramas of Mediating
Public Disputes (New York: Oxford, 2009) and Bicycle Transportation (MIT Press, 1994) to name
a few.

In the article, Forester first identifies the duties of a planner and how they should deal with
mediating and negotiating when a conflict arises. He writes that planners in a locality often
have complex and contradictory duties. They may seek to serve political officials, legal
mandates, professional visions, and the specific requests of citizens’ groups, all at the same
time (Forester, 1987). Forester touches upon the subjects of administrative conflicts such as the
unequal influence of opinion by the municipality board over the residents’ interests and local
land use laws that restrict the planner.

The planner usually has to go over a critical and long drawn review process for a project. He (or)
she has to ensure community participation but is given no details on how much information is
to be shared by the municipality board and as a result exercises substantial discretion. The
author gives an example of how such internal discrepancies are used as leverage by the
developers to approve or delay certain projects that would benefit them.
In an interview with a planning director, the person theorizes that even though the developers
act selfish, it is easier to discuss strategies with them as they’re consistent and have technical
knowledge of the subject. Neighborhood involvement is an ideal concept but in practicality, the
residents offer very inconsistent opinions. The director puts forward that the planner should be
able to identify the voice of the neighborhood rather than hold multiple round table
conferences.

Forester then proposes six strategies in which the planner can mediate local land-use conflicts.
Five of them being informal negotiation strategies as they could play a vital role for a smooth
process even before the formal decision making comes into play. The one left focuses on the
role of a planner as a regulator, a fact finder. Forester says this strategy shouldn’t be the only
quality of a planner as it also consists of having a judicial character. The remaining strategies
are basically roles the planner could fit in the different sections of the planning process –

∙ as a pre-mediator of neighborhood concerns

∙ as a resource - used only after discussions between developers and residents
∙ as a shuttle diplomacy – probing between both parties, negotiating and advising
∙ as an active and interested individual – one who acknowledges said conflicts and stands by
one’s opinion
∙ as a split job – one negotiates while the other mediates

The author explains each of these strategies with real world examples of urban planners and
how they dealt with the conflict. He also goes on to explain the emotional complexity and
administrative implications of above strategies and that they can only make a difference when
the planner is ethically, practically and politically practicing his/her craft.

John Forester’s article is a very detailed account of his experiences and showcases the various
discords in the sections of the planning process. The conclusions and strategies derived from
real life statements from practicing planners are put forth in a very articulate manner. By using
these examples Forester reinforce the very idea of bridging the gap between practical and
theoretical that he is so known for.

Bibliography
Forester, J. (1987). Planning in the Face of Conflict. Journal of the American Planning Association.