I agree with Matt that conservative (and libertarian) thinkers, to the extent they exist, should spend some time dealing with local zoning, regulation, and transportation issues. But as one of his commenters points out, conservative voters aren't likely to embrace any of this stuff.
One of my guilty pleasures is reading local forums and the comments at the local newspaper. There is a set of people out there who become absolutely enraged when presented with a situation such that there isn't a free or cheap parking spot available to them. I assume they must come into the city at times or they just wouldn't care, but they're absolutely livid that it isn't Disney City with Unlimited Free Parking Everywhere. That isn't to say the city is perfect - of course it isn't! - but whatever problems it has won't be solved by increasing the number of spaces available for New Jersey SUV drivers.