"Things change, so get over it, or make plans to move."

Land owners have, and should have, every right to express concern about what's happening in their neighborhood. They also have the right or attempt to direct, within legal limits, the nature of the development in the area where they own land.

Development impacts the value (I mean that generally, not just monetarily) of the land around it. If the development had no effect on other people's land, I would understand your attitude better. Yes, the developer has rights to use his property within legal boundaries, but that doesn't mean that the other landowners' use of their property is not diminished to some degree. This is a case of one property right impacting another.

I don't actually have an opinion on whether or not this development is a good thing, but I do have a strong opinion that demonizing or ridiculing people for standing up for their own interests is wrong. It only makes subservience and tyranny easier.