The Market Street controversy and what it means for the future

I've been tardy in writing about the Market Street fight that's consumed Town Hall the past couple of weeks. For those of you who need to catch up, here are a couple of good links: Flower Mound Messenger recap (reg. required), and more background from the Leader. Also check out The News Connection online. But do it quick - I'm not sure they archive previous week's articles.

Now that you're caught up, here are my questions and thoughts.

• Was this an issue about trees, or was this an issue about a few neighbors (who perhaps live too close to 1171 for their own comfort) worried about backing up to a grocery store? It's not that I don't sympathize with the neighbors who like having trees (and not a grocery store) behind their backyards, but they all know where they live. Unless they want to buy the land behind them, they don't get to control it. Eventually, something will be built there.
  
• Does this hurt Flower Mound's business prospects? It won't help, but it won't stop developers from seeking us out. We've got great land and a lot of rooftops. Besides, somehow the Pines got built, despite an active resistance from the neighbors to the south and west.
  
• Did we need another grocery store? Not in my opinion, but who am I to decide who should build here? That's a decision for an open market to decide.
  
• If council elections weren't coming so soon, would the vote have been different? I like all the council members we have, and I think it's the best council we've had in the 10 years I've been here. They're a functional group of very smart and caring people. I believe they each have the best interest of the Town in their hearts, and I know they all worked hard to understand the very peculiar issues surrounding this project. But the only council member who voted against the project was Laurie Long, and she's not up for election until next year. Jeff Tasker, Joel Lindsey and Tim Trotter all voted "no". So did Paul Stone, by the way, who (like Laurie) doesn't run this year. It will be interesting to see how this plays out when all the issues get aired in the upcoming campaign season, assuming we have contested races.
  

What other questions should we be asking, and what are your answers?