Who said a developer must be forced to sell at a loss? Ever hear of the concept of amortization? How about cost plus 10% over 100 years amortization. You assume that all costs of development must be immediately recovered; does not have to be so. Why do you think there are monopolies given by the patent laws?
No legal system has ever given a property owner untrammeled license to do as they please.
As an accountant and chief financial officer, yes I have heard of amortization. You claim to know what I’m assuming and that I’m not knowledgeable, but maybe you should look in the mirror.