This aligns with my observations. There's a huge amount of noise made about things like zoning reform. Politicians are usually smitten with themselves once reform is complete. In practice, it's hardly meaningful if applied to an area that has been extensively developed. Just for example: covenants on the deeds can render the zoning change moot. Likewise, it seems unlikely that existing residents are going to uproot their lives just to advance some specific concept of reform.

Some of this reform is also stupid, like Austin attempting (and failing) to mandate 9 ft ceilings in the name of "affordability".

My observation has been that if you're looking for an observable change in the next few years - just move somewhere else. It's less headache and the results are instant.