Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Growth Policy Act - Please Exit Stage Left
TENNESSEE, Chattanooga - Tennessee’s housing prices are rising faster than the national average. This may be a result of housing shortages caused by the state’s 1998 Growth Policy Act which limits annexations and municipal incorporations, while requiring counties and cities to define future growth areas in an attempt to reduce urban sprawl. Smart growth and other restrictive land-use rules create housing shortages that force homebuyers to pay tens of thousands of dollars more for homes, according to a new report from the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.
Comments:
From the article:
>>>>“Instead of legislating where houses can be built, state and local governments should let people make their own choices about where they want to live.”<<<
Sure... If these same people can build there homes WITHOUT water or sewer lines, police and fire departments, SCHOOLS and roads.
If it weren't for the high cost of providing public school education, I'm sure local governments could care less where people put their homes. This is NOT the case. NO town wants to raise taxes and absorb the students from a new subdivision that doesn't have a school.
Bottom line. People can't just build anywhere they want because the local government must provide costly essential services to that community. Since this cost must be paid by the taxpayer, the governement will have a say in wreckless sprawl.
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>>>>“Instead of legislating where houses can be built, state and local governments should let people make their own choices about where they want to live.”<<<
Sure... If these same people can build there homes WITHOUT water or sewer lines, police and fire departments, SCHOOLS and roads.
If it weren't for the high cost of providing public school education, I'm sure local governments could care less where people put their homes. This is NOT the case. NO town wants to raise taxes and absorb the students from a new subdivision that doesn't have a school.
Bottom line. People can't just build anywhere they want because the local government must provide costly essential services to that community. Since this cost must be paid by the taxpayer, the governement will have a say in wreckless sprawl.
