Some would simply call these issues simply "growing pains", and suggest there's nothing we can do, but accept them. I'm of the opinion there's a lot we can do.  First off, we need to insist planning commissions and city councils do more than just rubber stamp every development request that crosses their desks.  Second, we residents have a responsibility to attend our town council meetings.  Without public input, council members seem to be easily led astray by smooth talking out of towners with glib promises.  In my small town we've packed council meetings with concerned folk and been able to get our council to refocus itself and hear the call for slow growth, the need for more parks, and to appreciate the beauty of our area enough not to allow it to get paved over.   Even so, the fight goes on.
We need our mountain and water views much more than we do three story apartment buildings, wall to wall tract homes with plastic siding and  postage sized lots, and a round-about on every corner