I would be very thankful, if someone could help me figure out the meaning of the second part of the sentence below
これは地元住民とT大OBの反対によるもので、業者としても手のだしょうがなかったのだ。
The sentence is the explanation why despite other new shops Pachinko Salons cannot open in the area. I would loosly translate it as
That was due to the resistance of the local residents and alumnis of T university, so that even if someone wanted to he had no chance
but I am mostly guessing the second part. What is the meaning of 手 in combination with のだ and what function does のだ have here? としても means even if right?