What happens when the Commonwealth does distribute some of its budget surplus and the County remains firm in their anti-growth strategy?
The DP notes that:
If state officials allow localities to pass adequate public facilities ordinances, as they’re known, local governments could reject developments based on a lack of supporting infrastructure, such as roads and water sources. More likely, they could demand that developers pay for the needed improvements.
Over at Bacon’s Rebellion, a this comment states:
I would hope the debate would go toward asking why localities make zoning decisions that are seemingly not in their self-interest. Because if you look at their motivation – raising real estate tax revenue – it will lead you back to the General Assembly, and their decisions on how much funding localities should receive for things such as education, public safety, etc., as well as how localities can raise money on their own.
Yeah, an honest and fair discussion is a good place to start. But you know the saying- follow the money. (Bolding mine)
I have not yet decided where my opinion lies on this issue. Growth has been very poorly managed in this region. On the flip side, private property rights are one of the foundations of (my) the real estate industry. I just do not know. In theory, forcing infrastructure to be built in a synchronous timeframe makes sense to me. I have not seen either side propose this idea. Implement this at Albemarle Place.
Right now, there appear to be more questions and more questioners than solutions being proposed. Regarding the debate on sprawl:
Virginians, like their compatriots elsewhere in the United States, are of two minds about sprawl. They decry the effects, but are unwilling to take the painful steps necessary to stop it. They favor increased spending for public transportation, but generally will not abandon their own automobiles to use it. They want to retard new subdivisions, but only after they have their own homes on large lots.
We will never solve our suburban congestion problem without addressing the sprawl issue. Roads can’t be built fast enough to meet the rising demand. Mass transportation solutions will be more expensive than users and taxpayers will tolerate.
The solution(s)? I honestly don’t know. I know this – leaders are needed who will not pay lip service to the constituents and donors, on both sides. Pandering to the short term damages, if not dooms, the prospects for the future.
Do you trust the local government to do the right thing? To me, this is simple and clear; based on their recent track record, the answer is no.
We all live here. those of us who plan to live here for the next thirty years have more incentive than others to plan wisely. Solutions anybody?
Take ten minutes to read these two articles. One, two.
Update: After reading Bacon’s Rebellion’s response to the DP article, my thought process is now refined to this: the solution is not an either/or proposition. Compromise is possible; how, I still don’t know … but it’s an evolution, isn’t it?
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