The NIMBYs are so stunningly effective because they're the only people engaged on the issue, not because their values are actually universal.

Like anything else in politics, it's a turnout game. Development regulation is an obscure issue. There's a lot of room for people who would be okay with denser cities (and thus haven't paid attention) to learn about it and show up.

And then of course there's the movement we're already seeing in state legislatures.