a lot of current residents showing up at planning meetings
Do you go to such meetings? Do you watch them on cable access or view the tapes at City Hall? (Heck, into the 1990s, the only available video of San Jose city council or SCC Supervisors meetings were if we taped it ourselves.)
In reality, almost all such meetings are lightly attended at best unless a "progressive" interest group transports then in.
Almost all Bay Area city council try to portray themselves as "progressives". Even in stodgy San Jose, not one councilmember is a Republican.
Not all of them, but I go when I can. The last one I went to was packed full of neighborhood residents overwhelmingly against the development who were worried about traffic and parking. Though the development was right next to a Caltrain station, which is exactly where mid to high density development should be happening.
In reality, almost all such meetings are lightly attended at best unless a "progressive" interest group transports then in.
Almost all Bay Area city council try to portray themselves as "progressives". Even in stodgy San Jose, not one councilmember is a Republican.