The main reason you see strange bylaws and such is due to the few who do get involved. Often old people. The people have to make themselves heard.
why though? you have a minority exerting their influence on the rest of us. not everyone has so much free time to continually fend off these advances.
Home owners I guess are given extra notice, and consideration. As the property tax payers.
I know a property that runs along the back of my, and others properties wanted to do a zone change to allow container storage. We all had to be consulted and given a chance to say so.
Not true at all. Everyone can participate. If more participated they could easily overturn the whole system.
yes everyone *can*. but you have people who's full time "job" is to meddle while the people whose lives they meddle in are busy living (working, raising families, hobbies).
Yes, but they were elected to that job. On a whole it is a good system. There are elements that are not perfect. There are different places with different approaches.
If they were elected by less than half the population would they still have a mandate to meddle?
Depends on if this is a popular vote election, of a majority of districts election. There are pros and cons the each system. Germany uses both for their elections I hear.
nah just if less than half the citizens participate (cast a vote). even if they all have the option/chance to.
No vote counts as a vote with the majority.
