Anthony Galluccio, a land use and permitting attorney at Galluccio & Watson LLP, has issued a public alert about the widespread and avoidable risks associated with inadequate community engagement in development projects. Drawing from decades of experience in public service, law, youth coaching, and charity leadership, Galluccio identifies a recurring pattern where projects move forward without proper public process, leading to delays, stress, and broken trust.
Galluccio emphasizes that many teams fall into what he calls a "bunker mentality," where highly paid professionals spend months internally validating their project's merits without engaging the community. "Some developers focus on the real anti everything activists and then lose the forest through the trees," Galluccio said in a recent interview. He notes that loud critical voices are part of the process and should not be dismissed as impossible to satisfy, as opposition can be cooled and opponents can become supporters through genuine engagement.
The consequences of poor community process are significant. Studies show nearly 60% of project delays stem from poor planning or unclear processes, while more than half of people report avoidable stress linked to last-minute decisions. Communities lacking public engagement in planning experience higher conflict and longer approval timelines. Teams that skip preparation meetings are significantly more likely to miss deadlines. "Speed feels productive," Galluccio said. "But getting real buy in is what actually moves things forward."
Galluccio warns against what he terms "drinking your own kool aid," where projects evolve in isolation without public feedback. "You need real feedback and get it before the project is introduced," he stated. "It will take months and years to recover good faith in the community." He stresses that permitting is not fast work but trust-based work, and that community process saves time later by either investing upfront or paying for it later with delays and conflicts.
To help organizations assess their risk, Galluccio provides a quick self-check with questions such as whether they skipped community process before introducing a project, rely on urgency instead of preparation, or see compromise as failure. Answering "yes" to three or more indicates high risk. For those feeling rushed, he advises refining success as getting feasible entitlements approved on a reasonable timeline rather than an internal one. For resistance from others, he recommends encouraging processes that create specific requests and embracing change so the project becomes "theirs" not "yours."
Galluccio's approach centers on building trust through consistency and responsiveness. "Trust is built when you show up consistently and respond to concerns," he said. He advocates for comforting the community before they become unnerved, suggesting that developers announce there will be another meeting before the first one starts to reduce anxiety. His philosophy extends to viewing the process as a journey: "Every day is like a game. You win, you reflect and get better, you lose, you get to practice and get better."
Galluccio's insights are grounded in his extensive background, including heading historic rezonings, community benefits agreements, and permitting for major projects in Cambridge and Somerville. His work has contributed to zoning advancements in Kendall Square, described as the life science epicenter of the world. More information about his firm can be found at https://www.galluccioandwatson.com. His experience as a former Cambridge City Council member, Mayor of Cambridge, and Massachusetts State Senator informs his emphasis on consensus building, with past successes including settling difficult teacher contracts and negotiating community benefits with institutions like Harvard and MIT.
The implications of Galluccio's alert are far-reaching for developers, non-profits, and government entities. By prioritizing early and genuine community engagement, organizations can avoid costly delays, reduce conflicts, and foster sustainable partnerships. This approach not only benefits individual projects but also strengthens community trust and collaboration, ultimately leading to more successful and accepted developments that align with public needs and values.
