COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT DECISION-MAKING UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: AN ANALYSIS OF THREE PROCESSES IN PASSAIC COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT DECISION-MAKING UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: AN ANALYSIS OF THREE PROCESSES IN PASSAIC COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

Summary/Abstract: In two of three surveyed municipalities in Northern New Jersey, citizens felt minimally empowered in brownfields redevelopment decision-making processes. This affected their general acceptance of the projects’ outcomes. Contributing social factors driving public officials’ decisions in the decision-making processes that may have shaped the publics’ perceptions are evaluated. The research examines: how facilitating of participation processes, and the resulting decisions, were the public decision-making models within their organizational framework; municipals’ officials, citizens and developers’ roles; and, how these variables affect community participation processes. Decisions were made by adhering to the traditional routine prescribed processes in consideration of public community development priorities and objectives and with minimal to no collaborative activities involving the affected, interested citizens. Where citizens tended to be more influential in decision processes were in salient high stake contentious situations.

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