Don't USA cities have a lot more autonomy, both in planning and finance, than their UK▸ equivalents? It might be interesting to compare the geology as well.
Local Authorities almost everywhere have more more autonomy, both in planning and finance, than their UK equivalents!
I remember explaining to someone in a European local authority the powers of the Welsh Assembly (when it was first formed) and he was amazed that his local authority had more pwers than that!