Charlottesville, Virginia, spent most of a decade revising its zoning code.
It held endless community meetings.
It gave opponents ample opportunity to make their case.
They lost.
But a handful of rich homeowners sued and have gotten the new Charlottesville zoning code overturned on a technicality
https://communityengagement.substack.com/p/june-30-2025-judge-worrell-voids?r=blgf
9 millionaire homeowners, who couldn’t persuade Charlottesville residents and couldn’t win at the ballot box, decided they would throw everything they had to nullify their defeat.
And it worked
You don’t need to widen roads for that. In fact, it might be the worst option due to induced demand. For the curious, see:
More Lanes are (Still) a Bad Thing
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=CHZwOAIect4
https://youtu.be/CHZwOAIect4
The quote specifically mentions “widen any roads”. I haven’t read Charlottesville plans, but it could have included other options like public transport and bike infrastructure.