Question

Think back to the example in the Warm-Up: A business owner wants to open a restaurant, but many residents do not want a business that is open late at night near their homes.
How are local governments structured to solve a local issue like this one?

Answer 1

For the answer to the question above, the residents must file a petition to the local council and in turn, the local council will hear both sides and eventually making an informed decision whether to release a business permit or not to the said restaurant. I hope this helps you.

Answer 2

Local government structures typically allow for public hearings to debate issues of property use, particularly if there are variances sought to any local zoning laws.

In the example mentioned, it sounds like the business owner who wants to open the restaurant is either in a residential-zoned area or next to a residential-zoned area. So the city council (or other form of city government) would schedule a public hearing to allow views to be expressed on both sides of the issue before determining whether to grant the business owner a permit for his new business in that location or not.