Transferable Development... Rights?
On Friday, Adam and I spoke with Robinette Kennedy, who was speaking on behalf of a program called "Becoming Better Stewards of the Land." The program is bringing a couple of environmental professionals to Rabun County, in order to discuss development here, and how to protect the environment. Its being scheduled for July 16th, so that it will coincide with public hearings on the comprehensive plan for Rabun County.
So far, so good. But one of the things it looks like they are gonna push for here, is what they call Transferable Development Rights. Now I'll explain it to you as best I can:
Basically, you set up development zones around your towns. Now if a business or factory wants to move into the development zone, they've gotta buy a transferable development "right", in order to develop the land. So what they have to do is go to some farmer, or other owner of some green space, and basically they pay about 70% of the value of that green space, to the green space owner, in order to have the "right" to develop the land they've already purchased in the development zone.
Now I'm a cheapskate. I'm almost notorious for it. I buy Malt-o-Meal Cereal because its cheaper than real Lucky Charms. Most of my sustenance comes from free food at the radio station. And you are telling me that I have you pay for 70% of something I don't even get to use? And I have to do this because the local government tells me I have to? Stop me if this sounds like a "right." The right to pay through the nose in order to utilize the property I already purchased at the obscenely high price of the land that is Rabun County.
What is happening to property rights in this country? The supreme court manages to find something in the constitution that allows local municipalities to seize a person's property in order to sell it for a profit to a concern that will bring in a little more taxes? And right here in Rabun County, my property rights will no longer include "developing" what i just bought.
Don't get me wrong, I don't live in the middle ages. I'm cool with zoning, and junk car ordinances, and impact fees. The difference is, with zoning, I know before hand, that the property I am buying is in a commerical zone, so I will be allowed to build my store. I know that the land I bought was in a industrial zone, so I can build my factory. That's just good planning.
I'm sure that this program will have alot of good ideas for Rabun County. We know we need help with silt and run off, and the mountain ridge protection. But I think Transferable Development Rights is fundementally the wrong way to go.
So far, so good. But one of the things it looks like they are gonna push for here, is what they call Transferable Development Rights. Now I'll explain it to you as best I can:
Basically, you set up development zones around your towns. Now if a business or factory wants to move into the development zone, they've gotta buy a transferable development "right", in order to develop the land. So what they have to do is go to some farmer, or other owner of some green space, and basically they pay about 70% of the value of that green space, to the green space owner, in order to have the "right" to develop the land they've already purchased in the development zone.
Now I'm a cheapskate. I'm almost notorious for it. I buy Malt-o-Meal Cereal because its cheaper than real Lucky Charms. Most of my sustenance comes from free food at the radio station. And you are telling me that I have you pay for 70% of something I don't even get to use? And I have to do this because the local government tells me I have to? Stop me if this sounds like a "right." The right to pay through the nose in order to utilize the property I already purchased at the obscenely high price of the land that is Rabun County.
What is happening to property rights in this country? The supreme court manages to find something in the constitution that allows local municipalities to seize a person's property in order to sell it for a profit to a concern that will bring in a little more taxes? And right here in Rabun County, my property rights will no longer include "developing" what i just bought.
Don't get me wrong, I don't live in the middle ages. I'm cool with zoning, and junk car ordinances, and impact fees. The difference is, with zoning, I know before hand, that the property I am buying is in a commerical zone, so I will be allowed to build my store. I know that the land I bought was in a industrial zone, so I can build my factory. That's just good planning.
I'm sure that this program will have alot of good ideas for Rabun County. We know we need help with silt and run off, and the mountain ridge protection. But I think Transferable Development Rights is fundementally the wrong way to go.
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