Anthony Galluccio, a land use and permitting attorney at Galluccio & Watson LLP, is issuing a public alert about a widespread and avoidable risk he observes across communities: advancing projects without first understanding and engaging with the community process. Galluccio, drawing from decades in public service, law, and community leadership, emphasizes that the common mistake of internal decision-making without external input often leads to significant setbacks.
"People rush and decide internally that their project is 'good for the community,'" Galluccio said in a recent interview. "How would you like it if a team of suits came and told you how you should feel about a project in your neighborhood? The first public meeting should be after months of listening and getting to know your neighbors." He warns that starting with mistrust can be irrecoverable, whereas building trust early is crucial. Public process, he notes, is his trademark, and clients who resist it often learn the hard way. Treating community members as one would want to be treated if the project were in their own neighborhood is fundamental. Galluccio advises against focusing solely on vocal opponents, stating, "Loud critical voices are just part of the process and do not write them off as people you can never satisfy. Opposition can be cooled and opponents can become supporters. Good intentions aren't enough."
The risk is prevalent due to what Galluccio describes as a "bunker mentality," where highly paid teams spend months reinforcing their own views without community input. This lack of preparation leads to delays, stress, and broken trust. Studies cited in the alert show that nearly 60% of project delays stem from poor planning or unclear processes, more than half of people report avoidable stress from last-minute decisions, and 40% of daily actions are habit-driven, often guiding unplanned outcomes. Communities lacking public engagement experience higher conflict and longer approval timelines, and teams skipping preparation meetings are more likely to miss deadlines. "Speed feels productive," Galluccio said. "But getting real buy-in is what actually moves things forward."
A common trap to avoid, according to Galluccio, is "drinking your own kool-aid"—allowing a project to evolve in isolation without public interaction. He stresses the importance of real feedback before project introduction, as recovering community good faith can take months or years. "Permitting isn't fast work," he said. "It's trust-based work." Whether for a project, role, or responsibility, skipping steps often creates more work later. "Community process saves people time later," he added. "You either invest it upfront or pay for it later."
Galluccio provides a quick self-check for those at risk, asking questions such as whether community process was skipped, if urgency overrides preparation, or if criticism is seen as a setback rather than an opportunity. Answering "yes" to three or more indicates the risk likely applies. For those feeling rushed, he advises refining success as getting feasible entitlements approved on a reasonable timeline, not an internal one. If unclear about outcomes, be fluid in allowing the project to evolve with community input. For resistance from others, encourage a process that creates specific requests and embraces change so the project becomes "theirs" not "yours." If overwhelmed, remind yourself that permits must be earned, not entitled. "Every day is like a game," Galluccio said. "You win, you reflect and get better, you lose, you get to practice and get better. Accept this is a journey and if it were easy everyone could do it."
He calls for comforting the community before they become unnerved, suggesting announcing another meeting before the first one starts, as community anxiety is the enemy. "Trust is built when you show up consistently and respond to concerns," Galluccio said. "You have to get beat up, endure and prove to the community you are worthy of partnership." For more information on community engagement strategies, visit https://www.galluccioandwatson.com.
