Elbert County Master Plan and Zoning and Subdivision "change"
Ken Johanson
county or business doesn't have a plan? Out of control spending, or
pet-projects, then bankruptcy or state takeover, or higher taxes and
more government to administer the problems.
“Usually” a county or business has a growth plan for its future, HOW and
WHERE to most efficiently grow, so both residents and developers know
how and where to focus their activity and how tax money will be spent.
That USED to be what our 3 most important documents provided, the Master
Plan (“the people's document”), the Zoning and Subdivision regulation
comprised a “plan” for the kinds of development, and where in our
county. But the new versions our authored by our Planning department,
and soon to be voted into rule by our Planning Commission and BOCC have
removed that predictability, by stripping-out the Future Land use Map
and “adjacency rule”, both of which which were intended to preserve farm
land and limit urban sprawl. And yet, no fiscal impact study was
commissioned prior to voting on these changes. Our Planning Department
even changed its name to “Community and Development Services”. Together
with interests some Planning Commission members have in these changes,
it's obvious developers are railroading planning.
Supporters of this change have some nearly-believable arguments against
planned growth and claim they have the backing of fundamental Republican
or Conservative ideas – but in reality this lack of planning COUNTERS
spending and taxation and size of government concerns, tax-subsidized
commercial growth, and effects on and farming/ranching. Don't let
special interests railroad our county with super-slab scale ideas. We
can grow WITH planning, and keeping a balanced budget. Planning is not
counter to growth as some would have you believe. Go to
www.elbertnow.org to learn more about this topic and how you can get
involved, starting at the 7PM Planning Commission meeting this Thursday
Aug 27 in the Kiowa Courthouse.
Ken Johanson