You seem to have a low opinion of of everyone else. sorry, couldn't resist.

people's ability to make their own decisions or to decide what's in their own best interests. No, we must have properly appointed government bureaucrats make all decisions. If we deny someone's property rights, tough. They should know better than to disagree with their intellectual superiors in government. Just keep paying those property taxes and shut up. /sarcasm

Better end tag would be /stupid strawman.
There is of course more to it than beatific land owners and evil local councils (likewise evil corporations and heroic environmentalists), but shades of grey dont seem to suit with you and Tom below.


Seriously, would dumping dioxine increase or decrease someone's property value? One would think it would lower the value, so why would people rush to make their property toxic waste dumps?

Well that all depends on whether they let you know about, don't it.
In your world are there no toxic sites? Or did they all just happen by accident?

As for dairy farms in the middle of towns, it seems unlikely that someone could afford enough property to operate a profitable farm in town. Land prices in most towns are just too high, especially given the low profit margins of most farms. Now, if the farm was already there and the town grew up around it, then the people who move next door really don't have much grounds for complaint about the smell (although the bonehead still will). It's like the idiots who move next to an airport then complain about the airplane noise. Sorry, but I have no sympathy for them.

alcaray provided a deliberatly silly example. You took it seriously, though I have to agree with the main thrust of your sentiment.
There are many cases around here where people moving in to their new McMansions are suing the farms over the smell.

And what's wrong with a car wash next door to a school? Are schools supposed to be surrounded with an economic free zone, and if so, for what distance?
I have no idea what is bad about a car wash next to a school. Noise? Increased traffic?