Exactly. Zoning laws have been super restrictive for decades. "Slow growth"ers have been around for decades too ... they push development away from their area to be somone else's problem. Which caused leapfrog development
Developers have it never had it easy.
Someday these "planners" will wake up and realize that if you want denser urban areas, the easiest way to achieve this is to get rid of zoning, not instituting even more complicated regulations. It's call the law of unintended consequences.
"Developers have it never had it easy."
Well, I've certainly had it "easier," it's gets harder and more expensive every year. But, that's OK, that's the territory, I just deal with it. Right now, I'm about to go for a walk through my nice suburban neighborhood.
Except for ranches and farms, everyone's home sits on what was once someone's open space view, or field to play in, or area to hunt and fish. And someone was unhappy when your home got built.