Comments by "Laurence Fraser" (@laurencefraser) on "" video.

  1. Of you can do what is done where I live (not the usa) and a number of other places: Zoning is baseline. What is written in the zoning isn't the be all and end all of what can be done with the land, but rather lists only what you can do without consulting anyone else (and maybe a few things which are absolutely forbidden), everything else you have to go through the local government, who will look at what you're trying to do, where you're trying to do it, and what the neighbours have to say about it. Depending on what you're trying to do, they might just say no, but most of the time they'll present you with a list of requirements and restrictions. If you can find a way to do what you're trying to do within those requirements and restrictions, then you can do it, otherwise you can't. The neighbours don't usually get to just straight up veto things, so NIMBYs aren't as powerful as they might be, but if enough of them have enough significant, legitimate issues, it can still prevent a given plan from being carried out. (also, much as I say 'the neighbours', it's actually more like 'those in the surrounding area that the local government thinks will actually be affected, with how that is determined varying a bit based on the type of thing you're trying to do, among other things).
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