The perceived public policy benefits that are realized from zoning are all derived from the density and not necessarily the minimum lot size. Eliminating minimum lot size would allow clustering by-right, creating a number of positive outcomes.
Everyone wants to feel like they are “pro-housing.” But, just what does that mean? Here’s an answer.
Make no mistake about it; the 2010 General Assembly session was about the budget. That emphasis was not so absolute as to exclude completely all other issues, however. There were significant debates on things like unemployment insurance, mandated health benefits, capital punishment and land use.
Conducting a land inventory and selling surplus property, rather than raising taxes would allow McDonnell to help fund transportation, make government more efficient and increase transparency. It’s time Virginia join the growing number of states that are implementing this common sense strategy.
Producing land use policies that strike a careful balance between our cherished quality of life and the needs of Virginia’s business community is an important part of our efforts to maintain the Old Dominion’s status as the best place in America to do business.
Under Virginia’s current conditional zoning system, government choices are substituted in place of market choices. We should develop a better, more market-based and less politically-driven way to make local land use decisions.
Instead of trying to manipulate market demand, local governments should be crafting policies that allow the private sector to meet market demand with a minimum of taxation and regulation.
All over the commonwealth groups of local citizens band together to impact community life. Here is an example of just one such group. This is the story of local folks taking on the responsibility of keeping their “piece of the universe” as neighbor friendly as possible.
Henrico County is updating its land use plan as is Hanover and other counties around the state. This process needs to make sure that green space is preserved and the wishes of the citizens are kept in mind.
The hurricanes keep coming — and they always will. We can continue Business As Usual, making ourselves more vulnerable, or we can evolve safer, better protected human settlement patterns.
