I've seen a major local building developer work around them. To be clear, I think this developer is an asshole for other reasons, but he knows how to get around NIMBYs.

He presents an apartment complex. A few people in the neighborhood don't like it, and act like they represent everyone. Some city meetings are setup to discuss it. What he'll then do is suggest a few things as compromises that aren't really compromises. They might be things he wanted to do in the first place, but didn't think the city would have allowed it otherwise. If the people complain about the height, he'll suggest cutting a section of the top floor to create a balcony for a "penthouse suite" (he'll rent that one out for a premium and lose nothing in the end). Compared to the NIMBYs, where 90% of their arguments are bullshit and they look like raving loons, he looks like the reasonable one. The city council nods sagely and approves the project, perhaps without any alterations at all.

What he doesn't do is give NIMBYs ammunition before this process starts. You can't loosen nuclear regulations and expect for this to work.