Yes. You're talking about people asking for special dispensation in money and legal rights that get granted by agency policies and board votes, something far removed from the democratic process of the voters who don't get these privileges.

I would draw a hard line at disparate arbitrary and capricious allowances, i.e., making an affordable housing developer in a poor area jump through a ton of hoops, but letting a polluting power plant developer sail right through.

But seeing as this process is an exception to equality under the law granted at the whim of a board that may not even be elected in some cases, I have no qualms with making it by default really hard.

You want to change zoning laws? Fair. Do it for everybody via the elected town council or state legislature where the public has input.