Over Hyped about ‘Over’Development

The Aegis had an article today titled, “Building evident even to 9-year-old” by Matt Ward. Maybe this is just my conservative side coming out but all the fuss over re-zoning seems a bit much. As a conservative I do not feel nor do I claim to have the right to tell anyone what they can or cannot do with their land. I understand that the government may have the responsibility to make sure the local roads and necessary public facilities are available before they allow houses to be built, but I do not understand the government telling a land owner that he or she cannot sell and profit from their property. As mentioned in Barry Glassman’s Annapolis update, there seems to be a push to give these large land owners various tax breaks to help the land stay undeveloped. I have no problem with that. Undeveloped land can be beautiful. I love driving around Jarrettsville and Whiteford. I feel the anti-development people cross the line when they actively seek government intervention to prevent another citizen from profiting from their own property.

I am no developing expert but some of these people are complaining about R1 zoning. R1 means one house per acre. If you have a 17 acre lot, almost half of that will go to open space and roads. So you are left with about 9 acres. With R1 that means 9 more houses and at least 18 new cars. I just do not see what is so wrong with that. The land owner can stare at an empty lot or walk away with about $2 million dollars. What would you do? I feel the anti-development crowd lacks perspective. They do not understand the amount of money that is being thrown at these families. I bet in most cases the families do not really want to sell but when they see the amount of money for their land they jump at it. I don’t want to see my county turn into Howard County, but that fear does not give me the right to prevent another citizen from profiting from their land.