That's not how it works, especially in hot markets. Zoning is not absolute and the current process allows for all kinds of variances and exceptions.

The Pen Factory project is an excellent example. Local NIMBYs defeated a really neat project that even included low income housing. The original developer said "screw it" and sold the property to a developer that is now doing a by the books and within exact letter of zoning project that will result in a lot of office space and no mitigations for extra traffic or anything. No reviews will stop it.

The environmental reviews cannot be used as an effective NIMBY weapon is the developer is using original zoning. Instead, most project I have seen in LA push boundaries for profitability, often resulting in legal fights with locals.

Source: http://urbanize.la/post/construction-underway-santa-monicas-...