Responding to Streams of Land Use Disputes: A Systems Approach

Abstract

Disputes over land use are inevitable. Two recent studies demonstrate that negotiation and mediation can effectively resolve such disputes on an ad hoc, case-by-case basis. Given this evidence, and the reality that disputes over land use in many communities are increasingly chronic and ongoing, it is time to move beyond the ad hoc use of negotiation and mediation and incorporate collaborative methods throughout the land use decision-making process.