Free Enterprise Forum’s October newsletter – they attend more meetings than almost anyone else Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Program still seeking tractionAh, the “greater good” argument:The request creates a conundrum for the Board, a conundrum most succinctly spelled out by Slutzky at that September meeting: “We’re weighing the individual property owner’s wishes appropriately, but we should be weighing them against ultimately what’s the objective of this master planning process.â€At that same meeting, Wheeler offered her own view: “To propose a change in property rights or the land use for my property without contacting me is unconscionable,†she said during the public comment. “The property rights for the people who live in that area should be the concern of the people who live on that land.â€Is a conservation easement not an option?At least one of the candidates is going door-to-door.Cato Institute scholar talks zoning.Dr. Van Doren outlined three points on zoning’s inefficiency, “Zoning reduces some property values (land that could be used more intensely), more than it increases other property values; zoning is not necessary to ‘preserve’ wealth; and the market for change in zoning is political rather than explicitly economic.â€How Houston gets along without zoning.Meadowcreek Parkway moving forward. I couldn’t agree with Dave Norris more:“I would like to see a much stronger emphasis be put on getting a commitment by the County and setting an expectation from the County to really step up on the issue of transit, bike and pedestrian connections,†he said.I would add only that to emphasize the need to coordinate transit plans with all the stakeholders, not just the City of Charlottesville, County of Albemarle and the University of Virginia.
Date Archives October 2007
Light blogging this week
Next week I’ll return to normal posting. I am in the midst of attending the VAR convention, and balancing all other responsibilities. Thanks for your patience.
Collaborating in real time
In working on this presentation on blogging for the past week or ten days, we used Google’s Presentation (Powerpoint for the unenlightened) to work together. Chatting within the presentation making changes was mighty efficient.I’ve said before, and this is a clear example, effecting change needs to be at least a two-pronged approach. Working from outside the aging gorilla’s reach is effective, but working within the behemoth’s reach in tandem with those outside efforts should prove much more effective…. Influencing their conversation is but one way to get things done.In an example of the Web 2.0 world, I’ve spoken to Ben Martin dozens of times, (only a couple of times on the phone, the rest on IM or Skype) worked on this presentation for a couple of hours, and have yet to meet him, but have full confidence that today’s talk will go smoothly.
And you wonder why NAR is suffering a credibility problem?
Look no further than this analysis.It was great theater. Each month the NAR could be counted on for denial, cheerleading, and blind stupidity. When the NAR ended up with a new, somewhat less-hallucinogenic chief economist, I was actually a bit disappointed.
Hop on the bus, gus
Thanks to Simon and Garfunkel for the headline.Bus rides in Charlottesville are free this month. Let’s hope ridership goes up. Now, if we can just get the busses from stopping rush hour traffic for five minutes on South-bound Emmet Street … they would do wonders to improve their efficiency and their public image.