Urban Planner
There's another article from the Catoosa County News about Commissioner Bill Clark wanting to hire an Urban Planner.
First of all, I was under the impression that the impact fee study that we've funded (to the tune of $100K plus) includes a comprehensive land use study -- which would, most likely, be an essential prerequisite for any urban planning. So, let's not get the cart before the horse here.
Secondly, I question what good an urban planner would do without this community having the collective will to establish and enforce true and effective zoning and development controls. Practically every commissioner regularly gets quoted about "smart growth" and "managed growth," so clearly they're all thinking of it. But, when the rubber hits the deteriorating road, the developers seem to hold the cards.
We've been arguing that low-end housing development is out of control in this county for a few years now. Yet month after month, new developments are approved and are nowhere near the level required to even approach break-even for the county (about $250K min. value and above).
The developers building the $100K - $130K average homes have made fortunes for themselves while creating misfortune for the county's finances.
Just go to any of the Potts Bros. land auctions. These family estate parcels will get snapped up usually by some developer who will then begin plans (if not already in the works) to drop as many entry-level homes as possible onto the property.
Now, one caveat: Not all developers are bad! In fact, I know that one developer working on the
Back to the urban planner, however...
We just need to be sure that the county has an appropriate and clear vision of how it wants to develop and has the backbone to enforce it (making some tough decisions along the way) BEFORE hiring yet another government employee who might otherwise become one more expense on the books.
As a general rule, I support the concept of an urban planner. Hiring one just needs to be done at the right time and for the right reasons. Until we're fully committed to a vision that needs to be planned and executed, hiring someone seems... premature.
That would seem the appropriate, conservative approach.
CB
posted by Chris Casey @ 10:39 AM
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