I believe that the fight is more by developers than residents. It's a zoning outcome, after all, and most people, I suspect, don't keep on top of that being too busy with the lives
Maybe you are right. I live in the bay area and people here who lucked out buying a house in a normal time at a normal value have nothing to do but show up at all sorts of public hearings, meetings, etc. and shout down any kind of new development