In 2005, the U.S. Department of Defense unveiled its Base Realignment and Closure plan, following a lengthy analysis and engagement process. The plan had both supporters and detractors, with many fearing the negative impact of base closings on economically depressed communities.

The debate that emerged after the plan was published focused mainly on base closures rather than the consolidation aspect. However, several bases were targeted for expansion, including Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA. A recent article in Planning Magazine presents this flip side. Ft. Benning is expected to add nearly 10,000 personnel over the next several years, requiring new housing, new services, and even new school and traffic planning - these soldiers and civilians are expected to increase the school district population by over 30%.

Planners are constantly faced with unintended consequences, sometimes of their own making. Even in our (much smaller scale) projects, our research and planning methods often lead to new questions for investigation or new issues that were unexpected. One of the ways we deal with them is to work closely with our clients to think about what our primary purpose and objectives are -- what are the most important things our clients want to address; how does this new information/idea/challenge impact those priorities; how much is the change a temporary issue vs. a long-lasting impact. Because we are so interested in the relationship aspect of our work with clients, these conversations, while sometimes heated, are exciting and interesting.