Why Every Development Project Needs a Public Affairs Strategy From Day One

When a new development project is on the horizon, it's natural for developers to focus first on designs, permits, budgets, and timelines. But if you want the community to be on your side to make sure your project actually gets past the finish line, there’s another element that needs to be part of the conversation from the start, and that’s public affairs.

In a 2023 study by ​​coUrbanize, results indicate that residents under 50 tend to be more supportive of housing projects. The problem with that? This age group has historically been less likely to be at public meetings and show their support in front of elected officials who have the final say in whether a project gets approved or not. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get their voices heard, but it does mean more work is necessary to ensure constituent advocacy is achieved.

Don’t Wait Until the Finish Line to Think About the Community

Getting community support and stakeholder buy-in isn’t something that happens overnight, and it definitely doesn’t happen automatically. If anything, the longer you wait to engage with residents, community groups, business owners, and elected officials, the harder it becomes to build trust, correct misinformation, and keep a project moving forward without significantly costly delays.

With an ever-growing number of social media platforms, apps like NextDoor, and a variety of other ways to communicate with neighbors, getting ahead of community concerns is one of the most important tools to have in your public affairs plans. 

The Consequences of Waiting Too Long to Engage Public Affairs

This is not a new issue for developers. We’ve seen it happen around the country, with developers making major investments, only to face unexpected opposition at the eleventh hour because they didn’t prioritize communication early enough.

Just this past November in Des Moines, plans for a new apartment complex were blocked due to neighbor complaints. In North Miami, a group of neighbors recently sued against a development from taking place. A public affairs team would have gathered neighbors’ concerns, addressed them, and built coalitions within the community. They would have addressed community benefits.

Waiting until problems arise to start community engagement almost always puts you on defense. Here are some of the risks we’ve seen:

• Misinformation spreading before you’ve had a chance to tell your story
• Organized opposition filling the silence with their own narratives
• Decision-makers feeling pressure without understanding the full value of your project
• Costly delays, permit issues, or even project cancellation

Starting with a Strategy, Not a Reaction

Ultimately, the best approach for developers is a strategy from day one. The most successful projects treat public affairs with the same urgency as architectural planning or financial forecasts.That means:

• Mapping stakeholders and understanding the political landscape early
• Crafting clear, accessible messaging that actually resonates with the community
• Building authentic relationships with community leaders and neighbors
• Showing goodwill by addressing concerns early and adjusting the project where necessary
• Designing a community engagement plan that evolves with the project timeline
• Having a team ready to respond to questions, feedback, and emerging issues

At the end of the day, projects that invest in public affairs from day one aren’t just protecting themselves from risk. They’re setting themselves up for stronger partnerships, faster approvals, and real community pride in what’s being built.

In today’s world, if you’re not telling your story, someone else will, and it may not be the story you want told.

Questions? Reach out to our team to learn more about how we can help you connect with your community and position your next project for success.