Local Action Committees
Start a Local
Action Committee
Are there wetlands in your community that are threatened by development? If you are interested in joining your neighbors to form a Local Action Committee to protect wetlands, get in touch with us!
What is a LAC?
A local action committee (LAC) is simply a group of community members that get together and decide that they want to take action to protect an important community or natural resource. Forming an LAC can be a critical action step in safeguarding an area from development, among many other purposes.
In terms of organizing against any new development, it is important to understand the following:
- Current zoning designation
- The requested variances
- County land use plans
- State and local economic growth plans, which are the most influential
Once the group is formed, it is imperative to find out where the councilperson or commissioner stands, since logistics is a major economic growth strategy promoted by the state. Approvals are measured by metrics like number of new jobs, supplementary public investment opportunities, tax receipts, and proximity to an interstate or state highway.
Another huge factor is that Indiana is a “right to build” state, so if a project meets zoning requirements, there is a high likelihood that it will be approved. If the development passes all the city and county approvals it needs and gets to the environmental permitting stage, it can be extremely challenging to stop the development at that point. Therefore, the most successful LACs should seek to engage during the very early stages of a development when finances are being secured and zoning changes are being requested.
It is also important to factor in the reality that it’s extremely difficult to pushback on developments given the reasons cited above. Residents need to understand while stopping a new warehouse is the goal they need to be realistic and look for areas of compromise. However, if the LAC provides a strong argument for why a specific proposal or development is injurious to public health and the environment, success is possible.
Organizing Basics When Forming a LAC
- Create a name, website and social media presence.
- Create organizational structure and working committees, which includes:
- Communication and outreach
- Research
- Finance
- Leadership
- Appoint a spokesperson.
- Create talking points that are backed facts and research.
- Refrain from belittling officials and developer.
- Look for technical support and coalition partners. It is of the upmost importance to be transparent when seeking help or partners.
- Maintain cordial communication channels with developer.
- Refrain from lying, exaggerating and violence.
- Censuses is needed. Infighting will derail things.
- Decide how decisions are made.
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