Virtual Public Meetings Hold Little Promise for Developers

Given the way people took to virtual meetings during the pandemic, one might think the acceptance would extend to community meetings in which developers present their projects to the public.

But a recent survey by technology company coUrbanize, which has a platform for community engagement, suggests that something can sound sensible and yet not appealing.

The survey of 1,087 US residents during a two-week period between May and June 2021 showed that most residents, at 60.2%, agreed that virtual community meetings are more convenient than traditional in-person ones. Also, 57.2% said virtual meetings would make it more likely for them to attend.

And yet, only 36.2% of respondents have attended a virtual community meeting since the pandemic began. That compares to 43.2% that had ever been to any kind of community meeting, including planning board, neighborhood association, or city council.

As the study noted: “The overwhelming majority of respondents said they would prefer to offer their feedback about a development project in their community without having to go to a public meeting. Only 12.77% of respondents disagreed with this sentiment.”

And only 13.06% of respondents considered public meetings to be the best source of information about development projects. People preferred to get information about their communities from social media, even though they agreed that it wasn’t the best source.

Furthermore, respondents pointed to local news as their preferred source of information, even though the organizations that produce, edit, and distribute such news are under continuingly more difficult work conditions with lower revenues streams.

“Virtual community meetings have not improved overall participation from community members, although respondents do feel they are more convenient and easier to attend,” the report stated.

It continued, “Overall, people want other ways to share their feedback and get information about development projects. Development teams must figure out how to become the go-to source for information and updates about a project to limit the likelihood of misinformation spread on social media and through word of mouth.”

“Despite the general positivity, however, the survey shows that NIMBYism around affordable housing and density exist even among proponents of developments, and indicates that public meetings are not the best way to address these concerns,” said coUrbanize co-founder and CEO Karin Brandt in the company’s statement. “I recommend that developers explore less-traditional methods of educating local communities while allaying concerns about issues like overcrowding and traffic. Technology empowers more people than ever before to participate in the process. The greater the participation, the greater the benefits to developers, municipalities, and the communities they serve.”  

But it wasn’t clear how those changes were to happen.