Orange County targets growth

A proposed change to the
subdivision ordinance would allow Orange?s agricultural landowners to
divide their property three times every 10 years, a decrease from the current
rule of four times every four years.

“A movement to control
residential sprawl in Orange County has been invigorated by a survey showing
that a majority of residents think growth should be directed to designated
areas.

A proposed change to
the subdivision ordinance would allow Orange?s agricultural landowners to
divide their property three times every 10 years, a decrease from the current
rule of four times every four years.
…

A full house is expected
at a public hearing on the matter at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Prospect Heights
Middle School cafeteria”

Simply
put, ” ?Property rights are the basis
for all your freedom and liberty,? Supervisor Grover Wilson said.
?What?s the use in owning [land] if someone else is controlling
it??”

It is hard to argue
with the property rights argument. I find it difficult to simply accept that the
“common good ” is more important that the rights
of the individual. Nifty eminent domain article here (link good until
2/6/05)

The fact that Orange does not
have a reservoir ought to be a point of concern as well. During the drought a
couple of years ago, I recall that they were especially hard hit. At least
Charlottesville/Albemarle had their reservoirs to draw from a couple of years
ago.

The article (no longer available) is worth a read.