Even if the parties hold truly conflicting values, the clash does not have to result in deadlock. When land use conflicts appear to be caused by ethical disagreements, focus on mutual interests and problems rather than on conflicting values can lead the way to resolution. Conflicts of Interests Land use projects tend to pit positive interests against negative interests. Most supporters will endorse your proposal when it serves their positive interests. By comparison, neighbors have a negative interest in losing benefits they presently claim to possess.
Most citizens live in the community because they like it.
They are not looking for more traffic, fewer deer, crowded schools, or other changes to the status quo. Not surprisingly, the loss of an existing benefit is considered to be significantly more important than the equivalent gain of a new benefit. That is why it is so much easier for opponents to turn out troops to stop your project than it is for you to encourage residents to show up to support your plan. Developers often use persuasion to convince citizens that the project will not injure their interests. Rational persuasion involves the logical presentation of facts and arguments.