First, I want to begin by reminding you of the permanence of development and the loss of farm land. Developed lands can never be reclaimed for agricultural use.
Secondly, I want to try to clarify what you are really trying decide with this legislation. I hope you keep this perspective in mind while reviewing the comments you heard tonight and are making your decision on how you will vote.
Some people are trying to confuse the issue by saying it is about property values and property rights. The concern for property values is understandable but not supported by the evidence; and I am not talking about special interest funded studies, I am talking about the facts as they are on the Eastern Shore, which is the best evidence we can have. The members of this council know that other shore counties that have down zoned did not see a significant, prolonged drop in land values. Land values in those counties remain consistent with those in neighboring counties with higher density allowances. So this issue is not about the loss of property values.
The issue is also not about property rights. The options and rights of the farmer and developer stay the same. The farmer can still either farm his land or sell it to the highest bidder and the developer can still build as many houses on the land as the law allows. This is not a property rights issue because, honestly, no one has the right to do with or develop their land however they wish. Every piece of land in this county, in this country, is subject to zoning. Every property owner faces guidelines on what they can and can’t do with their land.
But you, as the county government, do have the right to decide how the land in this county will be used. That is what this issue is really about, not property values or property rights, but land use, as all zoning issues are. There is competition between the agricultural industry and the development industry for land in Wicomico County. Land is a limited resource and both industries want to use as much of it as possible. What you as a council are really trying to decide is what industry, agriculture or development, should be using the majority of the agricultural land in this county, in other words, which is the best use. It is my belief, along with I think the majority of county residents, that the agricultural industry and farmers should be the ones using the majority of the agricultural lands in our county. The development industry is an important sector of our economy, but its use of farmland should not take precedence over use by the industry that has always provided this county’s economy with a solid foundation. Agriculture is our number one industry and has the potential, as an industry, to be more sustainable and stable in the long run. The recent housing bubble and bust should be a warning against basing our county’s economy and land use policies on the development industry.
The 50/50 split of a parcel under the current law between use by the farmer and the developer does not leave enough land for the farmer to keep their business efficient and profitable. No wonder so many farmers see selling more land as the only option for making ends meet. What they really need is to keep more of their land in production so their businesses can remain profitable and growing. The fairest way for the farmer and developer to share the land is to eliminate the density bonus which will ensure that the large majority of a parcel will remain open to agricultural use.
If for some unfortunate reason you decide as a council that you do not have the will to do what is right and the support the agricultural industry by passing this measure, than I urge you to please begin work immediately on a TDR program for this county or some other measure, although voting yes May 5th will be the best and most immediate action you can take, so that growth can be directed away from the agricultural zones and into the urban core. Because the fact of the matter is we have to start doing something now to stop excess development on our farmlands and preserve our county’s number one industry before it is too late.
In closing, I would like to ask you to please see this, as all zoning issues are, as a land use issue and to see that agriculture is the best land use in our agricultural zones because it is necessary for our number one industry to survive. It will also preserve the character and lifestyle of this county that we all love and want to preserve. Also, one can’t be reminded enough of the permanence of development; once farmland is developed it will never return to farmland. If we don’t reduce density in these areas now we will be facing these same issues, or worse, in 5yrs time and there will be no going back, we cannot create more farmland to replace what has been lost.
I live and work full-time on a farm here in Wicomico County so my future, as a farmer, will be directly affected by this legislation either way. I would feel much more secure about that future if this bill passes, which is why I am asking you as my elected representatives to please VOTE YES!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
41 comments:
Your last statement said you live and work on a farm. When you tell me that you own it and pay taxes I will be more willing to listen.
So let me get this right.
"It will also preserve the character and lifestyle of this county that we all love and want to preserve. "
So is he suggesting we destroy all our homes and cities? They certainly were not here when our country was created.
No he is suggesting his neighbors should not have the right to sell then land for new homes. He wants to decide what they do with their land because he likes seeing farms all around him. Then he should buy all those farms. Then he would have that right but no. Just tell those owners what to do on their land so he gets what he wants for free.
9:54, sorry it wasn't spelled out for you but yes they also own the farm they work as opposed to some people who get paid not to farm. This person actually farms their land.
9:56, read the post before you make uninformed comments.
Down zoning will hurt the land owners value. Lets try a simple test, you want to buy a hen for fresh eggs, one hen lays an egg a day and one will lay two eggs a day which hen is worth more? Which hen do you buy?
The idea that you can take something of value away from a landowner and they will still have so much value leftover, does not equate to fairness.
a) Does anymore land need to be preserved? Only 20% of the county is developable. Over 40,000 acres in large tracts is already preserved, does more need to be done?
b)Taking rights away should only be done without malice and in a fair manner That means that those that want to take rights away, should have to pay for those rights.
c) Charles Wrights' speech sounded great, he's a farmer and has concerns about neighboring properties being developed....but Charles has already been paid to preserve his land, as has Blan Harcum. Its selfish of them to take others rights away without compensation, after they have already been compensated for their rights.
Fair is fair Charles and Blan.....
Our local Wicomico County Council is attempting their own power grab to control the land of some, which will lead to the controlling of privately owned land of all. This bill needs to be voted down. All who vote for it, are saying they know what is better for our land than we do. This is an outrage, and just another example of things tirckeling down from our power grabbing federal government to the local governments.
10:08, then assume you have a hundred hens that lay two eggs a day and only have food for twenty.
10:08, what's the cost of an egg? What's the market demand for eggs?
Whoever thinks it is about "rights" is either misinformed or delusional. So if that's the case, perhaps you don't know what is best for your land.
Fact is land values are too high. Farmers who sold for millions recently have developers scratching their heads because they can't afford to build now because they paid too much for the land in the first place. You have to build that into the price and now base price for lots, before a house goes up, is in some cases 50-60 thousand and up, just for developers to break even.
10:23
You mean the fact the government can control what you do with your land has nothing to do with your liberty and your rights? Wow, I had no idea. I thought legally owned land was ours and not the governments or any special interest group.
It's called zoning. And no, technically you DONT own your land. All land within the US borders is technically owned by the government and can be seized at anytime. In your deed you are granted certain rights to use your land, not unlimited carte blanche.
You learn something new everyday.
Not if you got a good shot-gun.
We do not have a totalitarina government yet.it is coming, but the government does not own everything we have. if it did, we would have been a Socialist country from the very start.....
10:59:
your thoughts that are so very wrong, are very scary for the future of my children. Good thing I joined the NRA, have marines in the family and am purchasing several handguns to protect my family.
whackos like you may be coming to take away what I LEGALLY OWN.
What happened to dealing in an equitable manner, what happened to choice? This is a Pro Land-choice issue.
Last I checked we haven't competely changed yet to the United States of Zimbabwe. Therefore property owners are the ones to best determine the use of their property, Not the governement, unless it fairly compensates them for it, and definelty Not some special interest groups trying to peddle their ideology and agenda on everyone else.
honestaby
Good thing right-wing extremists arent prone to domestic terrorism or anything. Grow up chris lewis. loser.
I legally own the farm next door to you and I plan to open up a toxic waste dump. It's my property I can do what I want. I hope you don't drink off a well.
I do own and pay taxes on my farm and I don't plan on retiring and selling it anytime soon so why would I want an inflated price on it so I'll have to be paying inflated propery taxes for the rest of my life. If you're concerned about property taxes you want lower property values not higher.
I find it amazing that it is news to some of the readers here that you cannot do whatever you want with your property! It is called zoning, and it has been going on since the colonists first got here. Your NRA membership isn't going to help you. But as you folks like to say, this is America: love it or leave it! If you don't like our zoning laws (which existed long before you were born), move or vote. Bragging about the guns you own or "Marines in the family" is ridiculous.
12:39
you scare me. Do you think I am scared of Idiotic statements from people who cannot back anything up? or do you think I care what you think of me? of course I don't. it is easy to attack others when you are not known. it is easy to stand behind anonymous. And you call me a loser, how laughable!
1:01
You miss the whole point. Too bad.....
Zoning codes are to keep toxic waste dumps from popping up next door to you 1:01pm, but there's nothing saying if the owner goes before a commission that they can't put up a strip joint if the landowner does all the things necessary and gets your other neighbors to go along-do you get it? You can do what you want with your land, but you can't just put up a bar or a commercial shop in your house overnight and think your neighbors won't be upset-that's what the zoning code is intended to control. As for rightwing extremists, you can cry all you want and think they are the losers, but when your rights are gond (and they are slowly being taken, little by little) you will be the real LOSER.
Chris Lewis, it's sad you think you have the right to kill people based upon what you beleive to be true. In civilized countries we call that "psychopathic behavior".
Typical of crazy, right-wing nutjobs who are detached from reality, unfortunately. I fear for your children's safety.
2:40, in the Middle East it's call "being a terrorist" a.k.a an America hater. Why do you hate America so much Mr. Lewis?
When you read the statements of people Chris Lewis, it's no wonder people are fleeing the Republican party in droves.
Really, how is it I now want to kill people??? How is defending the Consitution a cause to say someone is a domestic terrorists. What are you people about? You are calling me crazy? What drugs are you on??
I believe in Staes rights, so I guess I am a domestic terroritsts as well. Chris: Keep up the good work. people attack you by na,e but they do not have the courage to put their own name up there. I know by the news and bheing there, that you helped with the tea party. I guess most the peopel responding here have nothing better to do than promote hate and then accuse you of doing what they do. Strange world we live in now. I have also just purchased a gun. I also see my rights being taken away and the future of my children being destroyed.
Two Sentz:
I am not a Republican. Posting things you have not checked on huh.
I love America, the Constitution, God and my Family. I am fighting for my children. What is sad, is how people are twisting my words for their own gain. History is lost on most people responding to this article.
2 Egg laying hens? Your comparison doesn't apply to this situation. But if you want to use hens lets do it. This downzoning thing is like if all the hens in the world lay two eggs a day, and then one day things changed, and all the hens could only lay one egg from that day on. What would happen to the price of eggs? It would go up. Supply and demand says property values go up after downzoning.
Anon 2:44pm and 2centz, it doesn't surprise anyone that you have turned this all around. Chris Lewis clearly states the guns are for protection of his family and nowhere-NOWHERE in his post does he hate America or proclaim to hate America. As for Republicans leaving- or what ever you state without any proof just media talking points, it's not because of him either, he's stated on Several occasions that he is an independant and tends to lean towards Libertarians...oooohhhh, domestic terrorist wrttten all over that one before you labeled him. How about you grow up and read something that isn't covered in left-wing-feel-good-about-myself-cuz-Big Gov/mommy-is-gonna- take-care-of-me propaganda...
I am actually a Libetarian. I consider myself a Conservative Libertarian.
Development will take place in the inner core so land owned by Mr. Cannon's family will become more valuable. Should he be allowed to vote?
Mr. Cannon needs to go. To much conflict of interest going around. That is why this so-called America-Hater and killer is going to run as a Libertarian next year. I alos know a few more who are going to run. There are a lot of good, busy people willing to sacrifice to better the Eastern Shore, just as a start and then move on to better our country.
How about moving on to another country? We won't miss you.
I'm definately not going to vote for you Chris, you're a nutbag.
If downzoning does not affect value, ask any appraiser why they make adjustments for differences in development rights or zoning classifications.
In fact, it is required for appraisals done by the federal government.
What kind of adjustments? That could mean anything.
6:29 and 7:00
Being idiots must be a nice way of life for you. All of us are not as stupid as you two, if it is two different people. Sit on your mothers couch and keep typing away...........I bet you have no clue who you vote for or who supports them or who is in the background helping them. It certaintly seems that way with these comments..
Pathetic!!!
Sorry if you were insulted by the term "republican" it's just when you have a blog called "right-wing underground" I tend to think of that as republican. And since you label youself "conservative ilbertarian" that tends to cancel out "liberal libertarian" (if there is such thing then I would be such) which leaves only "concervative" i.e. republican. You can't say you don't agree with many republican philosophies though, can you?
I think you have your blogs all confused and mixed up.
I was not insulted, but if people are going to talk about me, they should at least have their facts straight. Also, the right-wing underground is NOT my blog. I am not a blogger, but a contributor to several blogs, that is all.
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