Not sure what you mean by having it both ways. I’m inclined to think we agree on this one more than we agree. I’m certain that if we shared our particular circumstances we would agree with each other’s complaints.
Certainly there is not a development that someone somewhere will not object to. And there are always those people that are cozy in their suburban home that will be the first to complain about any more of them being built around them.
On the process though, developers can play by the rules and have great influence. If bad public decision making comes about as a result, it is the fault of the elected officials or their appointees on the planning commission.
Can’t blame a developer for trying to get what they can. In my view, though, the system is generally speaking (legally) very corrupt.
I don’t blame a developer for wanting to develop HIS PROPERTY they way he wishes.
What I have a problem with is people who complain about the process when a developer wants to build something they don’t like, but don’t complain when a developer wants to build something they do like.
NIMBYs.
I have a problem with those who call themselves Conservatives who will rail on and on and on about “high rise development” and “they are going to herd us all into high rises” and other hysterical rantings, but who would support using zoning and government top-down planning as a tool to get single family developments.
I say let developers develop THEIR PROPERTY which they bought (and anyone else could have bought) they way they wish and if it is a financial success fine, if not then fine as well, they will lose out.
The problem is that a lot of so-called conservatives have a problem with any type of development other than single family car-dependent suburbs. Yet they supposedly believe in the free market and free choice. Well, many people want to live in more dense developments with multiple transit options. What is Conservative about cutting these people out of the same process that is used to build single family suburbs? What is Conservative about not allowing free choice in where to live and in what kind of development to live?
It is the blatant hypocrisy that bugs me.
Also there are a whole range of choices rather than either single family or high rise apartments. That is discounted in these discussion, especially among FR hysterics.