PON – Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School - https://www.pon.harvard.edu
Environmental Role-Play:
Billboards in Wyethville
$0.00 – $6.50
Kelly Davenport and Lawrence Susskind
Six-party negotiation among business, municipal, and environmental representatives regarding a potential ban on billboard advertising
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SCENARIO:
Wyethville is a small and blossoming city, whose recent economic prosperity has prompted development of its waterfront. A new and highly controversial code proposes banning all billboard advertising along the waterfront so as to beautify the area and attract investment. Six members of the local business community and residents, with divergent interests, must present a final Billboard Proposal to their City Council. At least five of the six members must endorse the Proposal for it to be accepted by the City Council.
MAJOR LESSONS:
Land use decisions, particularly those involving aesthetics, can be more easily negotiated if the right forum is established.
Value creation is possible in land use negotiation by including additional (off site) issues.
TEACHING MATERIALS:
For all parties:
General instructions
Copy of the proposed amendments to the Wyethville Sign Ordinance
Role Specific:
Confidential Instructions for
P. Sondheim: President of the Wyethville Business Association + score sheet
C. Castillo: Wyethville Development commission + score sheet
B. Randall: Spokesperson for Scenic America + score sheet
Prof. Landon: Professor of Political Science at Wyethville Community College + score sheet
R. Waxman: Owner of the local Big Sleep Motel + score sheet
C. Toli: Council Member for Wyethville and potential Congressional candidate + score sheet
Additional Teaching Notes:
Teaching Matrix (charting various settlement options and the participants' preferences)
KEYWORDS/ THEMES:
Free speech; aesthetics in the public sector; land use planning; zoning; municipal decision-making; urban design
Prof. Susskind’s Top 5 Environmental Negotiation Teaching Materials
From time to time, the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center asks PON-affiliated faculty to nominate their top five books, top five teaching videos or top five role-play simulations in certain fields or teaching settings. These change periodically.