Bikers and hikers. Sex workers and social conservatives. Agencies and activists. The people involved in planning for a site—or a community—can be like the Hatfields and McCoys. And the process brings them together face to face and toe to toe.

How can planners take conflicted communities from passionate demands to practical solutions? Facilitative leadership offers helpful answers. Cornell University’s John Forester has produced a dozen profiles of planning practitioners known for their successes in helping communities turn contentious conflicts into practical consensus. This...