There's scholarship on this point exactly, that in fact, public participation provides an opportunity for groups to.... Essentially, it creates a bubble, if you will, where contentious issues can be resolved. If they are done in an impartial way, then they actually in the long run secure greater acceptability of the project and those kinds of things. There's definitely literature on that point.
I would just reiterate what Professor Elgie said. The more you can do at the front is beneficial. The concern here is about efficiency, and I get that, but a little bit more pain at the beginning can lead to a more streamlined and effective process down the road.