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Possumhund
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Posted: Jul 24th, 2007 12:55 pm |
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I've noticed many forum participants have close roots to the land in our communities, but we haven't yet had a discussion area for an exchange of ideas on preserving our rural heritage. All of our communities have taken some small steps toward preservation, but much more could be done. So, lets hear it guys and gals; what are your views on rural preservation?
To get things rolling here's a link to an article in the Raleigh News & Observer about conservation easements- a technique that preserves farmland and forrest while allowing the owner to continue harvesting their crops and giving them some extra cash and tax advantages. Any farm land owners out there listening?
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/growth/story/647357.html
Last edited on Jul 24th, 2007 12:56 pm by Possumhund
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DOGGETTJA
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 12:38 pm |
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Possumhund This is sort of off subject I guess but are you not outraged by the company in Florida trying to sell the flood plain to the State of North Carolina for 6 million dollars? The Haw River park has been talked about for years. The state with the help of Guilford county has worked very hard for years trying to buy the land to make this park happen. They contacted land owners in the area years ago and told them what was planned. So now some group out of Florida has bought 700 acres in the middle of the area that had been earmarked for the park, are going to put in 700 houses in a gated community. Their attorney says "but it will be a very nice community with lots of open space and add money to the cofers of Guilford County." The acreage that the Park system is trying to buy is in the 100 year flood plain but the developers say they can put ball fields for their residents and they will lose some houses, so the land is worth 6 million dollars. 96% of the land in discussion is wetlands.
There is a hearing on 8/8/07 at Guilford County planning board. It is greed like this that makes open space and parks such a problem in a community.
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macca
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 12:48 pm |
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Good post, Jane! There ought to be a law!!!! 
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Jim Flynt
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 01:01 pm |
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| Edited by Poster. Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:34 am by Jim Flynt
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macca
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 01:09 pm |
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So it all comes down to what is best for the individual vs the greater community, huh?
Would the state still have the option of condemning the property now?
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A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright
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Jim Flynt
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 01:13 pm |
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| Edited by Poster. Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:34 am by Jim Flynt
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Jim Flynt
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 01:13 pm |
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Edited by Poster.Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:35 am by Jim Flynt
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Jim Flynt
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 01:17 pm |
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Edited by Poster.Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:35 am by Jim Flynt
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Jim Flynt
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 01:32 pm |
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Edited by Poster.Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:35 am by Jim Flynt
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macca
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 02:26 pm |
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| And who determines "just compensation"?
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A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright
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Jim Flynt
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 03:09 pm |
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Edited by Poster.Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:36 am by Jim Flynt
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DOGGETTJA
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 03:49 pm |
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My complaint is that I am sure that what ever the home owner sold his property for he did not get 6 million dollars for 50 acres in the hundred year flood plain.
Where are the schools and roads to support this huge development? Guilford County is so far behind in their ordinances. Orange County and Wake County are so much more progressive in their land use ordinances.
So you and I taxpayer are going to pay what ever price this out of town developer is holding us up for plus the schools, roads and all the other infrastructure this development requires. While it sounds like a lot of tax money residential does not pay it share of the infrastructure which is why you have to have commercial development.
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Possumhund
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 04:20 pm |
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Exactly right, Jane. Jim's point's are valid, though I think he's really playing devil's advocate in this thread since I know he's very interested in conservation issues. However, government exists not only to protect private property but also to provide for the "public welfare". Certainly preserving a modicum of open space is in the public welfare, and protecting our water supply, especially a stream whose water quality is already threatened is also in the public welfare.
I'm curious how this property in the flood plain can possibly be developed given the concern that exists over water pollution in Lake Jordan and the remediation that the state is likely to require of municipalities along the Haw to protect the lake's water.
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Possumhund
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 04:33 pm |
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Jim Flynt wrote: macca wrote: So it all comes down to what is best for the individual vs the greater community, huh?
If you are a landowner, what obligation do you have to the community to sell your land to them substantially cheaper than you could to some other private party?
Why should any citizen be expected or obligated to sell their property to any government for anything less than "fair market value"?
This is a difficult problem for the public and for landowners to resolve. No one wants to lose a substatial portion of their net worth whether to a goverment condemnation or a drop in market values due to an undesirable neighbor (trailer park, pig farm, paper mill, landfill, etc.). The conservation easements referenced in the opening post are one way to encourage private landowners to preserve open space, but more needs to be done. One technique I'd like to see locally is reduced property tax rates for farmland, forrests, and other open space which would be some encouragement for landowners not to sell their property for development.
I'd also like to see our local communites approve higher density housing. The current rules which place limits on minimum lot size in order to preserve a rural atmosphere actually work in reverse in a market where there are plenty of well heeled homebuyers for whom price isn't really an impediment when puchasing a home. Higher density housing would provide much needed "affordable" housing, and in exchange for allowing the higher density buildout, a larger proportion of the property could be dedicated to open space while still allowing the developer a fair profit.
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DOGGETTJA
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Posted: Jul 28th, 2007 07:25 pm |
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| Higher density is a problem with septic systems and wells although wells are less or going to be less of an issue in Stokesdale and Oak Ridge. Density it tied in to recharge rates and septic needs. Summerfield at one point was discussing a municipal septic system so as to protect the lot sizes in the core district. I personally thought that was a great idea to perserve the feeling of a small town.
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