...the development of real estate learn very early in their careers. I was involved for a long time in commercial real estate development and I know I was taught this rule early on.
The rule that is never violated, on purpose at least, is as follows...
The development of real property will ALWAYS be at its best use to create the highest value for its owner.
There are sometimes variances from this rule. The use of a piece of property zoned for high-rise construction for a single-level building would be a mistake by the developer and certainly wouldn't create the highest value. Of course, property that might otherwise be built upon can also be designated as a park or school or something else for the public good. The Village already has a huge proportion of its total acreage designated as recreation centers, pools, parks, wetlands, preserves, etc.
There was a lot of acreage devoted to buffalo grazing. That certainly wasn't the best use of the land that would create the highest value for its owner. Building on it, as appears now to be the case, won't reduce the amount of land devoted to public useage by any significant amount. I don't think anyone would classify the buffalo pastures as public parks. As many have said earlier, the disappearance of "our" buffalo was only a matter of time.