Also called NIMBY, the not in my backyard phenomenon is a colloquialism that signifies one’s opposition to the location of something undesirable in one’s neighborhood.
The phrase is thought to have originated in the mid-1970s.
In this blog, we’ll discuss how NIMBY is used and why you should be aware of this characterization.
1. What is not in my backyard?
As noted above, “not in my backyard” is a characterization of opposition by residents to proposed developments in their local areas.
Using this saying, they are demonstrating their support for strict land use regulations.
It indicates that they are not only opposing the development nearby but that they would not tolerate or support it if it were built farther away.
2. What is the history of not in my backyard?
The word NIMBY appeared in a June 1980 newspaper article in Virginia.
Here is the quote, “Some call it the NIMBY Syndrome. That’s NIMBY, as in ‘Not-in-my-back-yard.”
The concept behind the term — locally organized resistance to unwanted land uses — is likely to have originated earlier (perhaps in the 1950s).
3. What are people who support “not in my backyard” called?
Residents who support this position are often referred to as NIMBYs and their viewpoint is called NIMBYism.
4. What are examples of projects that are likely to be opposed by NIMBYs?
Here is a list of some of the projects that may be opposed by NIMBYs:
Housing development
Pedestrian infrastructure
Skyscrapers
Homeless shelters
Oil wells
Chemical plants
Oil and chemical pipelines
Industrial parks
Military bases
Sewage treatment systems
Desalination plants
Landfill sites
Incinerators
Power plants
Quarriers
Prisons
Pubs
Adult entertainment clubs
Concert venues
Firearms dealers
Mobile phone masts
Electricity pylons
Abortion clinics
Children’s homes
Nursing homes
Youth hostels
Sports stadiums
Shopping malls
Retail parks
Discount stores
Public schools
Railways
Hospitals
Highway expansion
Airports
Seaports
Grocery stores
Nuclear waste repositories
Storage of weapons of mass destruction
Cannabis dispensaries
Recreational cannabis shops
Methadone clinics
Accommodations for people applying for asylum, refugees, or displaced persons
5. What is the rationale for the “not in my backyard” campaign?
Above there is a long list of all the additions to a neighborhood that NIMBYs may resist.
If you don’t immediately align with this mindset, your initial question may be…why?
What is the rationale for why they’d object to this development?
Here are some of the reasons.
Increased traffic
Ex: Infrastructure development for new roads, motorway service areas, light rail, metro lines, airports, power plants, retail developments, sales of public assets, electrical transmission lines, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, sewage outfalls, and prions.
Harm to locally owned businesses
Ex: Big box store installation can bring harmful competition to locally owned stores
Loss of residential property value
Businesses offering goods or services that are immoral
Ex: Adult video, liquor stores, medical cannabis dispensaries
Environmental pollution of land, air, and water
Ex: Power plants, factories, chemical facilities, crematoriums, and sewage treatment facilities can all have environmental impacts on the neighborhoods they’re in
Noise and light pollution
Ex: Projec