> It seems pretty clear cut given the focus on property rights in the States that whoever got there first does get to call the shots. If we're concerned about

> It seems pretty clear cut given the focus on property rights in the States that whoever got there first does get to call the shots. If we're concerned about property rights, why can't the property owners build at a higher density? Or sell to a developer that will build at a higher density? The fact is the zoning at play _restricts_ property rights it doesn't protect them. Anyway zoning was never static (it wasn't ordained by God after all), so changing it isn't really a big deal. People are angry and surprised of course, but the writing has been on the wall for a long time.