Posted on 04/11/2002 5:56:40 AM PDT by sauropod
by Patricia Callahan, President of the American Association of Small Property Owners:
April 10, 2002
Scant attention has been paid to legislation currently working its way through Congress that would institute a $250 million grant program to federalize no-growth (euphemistically called "smart growth") regulations nationwide. The result would be devastating for small property investors, both urban and rural.
S. 975 would require local governments to implement land management plans using model "smart growth" statutes provided in a 2,000-page "Legislative Guidebook" developed during the Clinton Administration by the American Planning Association, a no-growth trade organization, with almost $2 million in HUD grant money.
Despite giving lip service to the idea that land use planning is rightfully a state and local government function, S. 975 undeniably represents a top-down approach to land use management. The legislation will use our tax dollars to create a multitude of jobs for APA members, who will be free to promote their no-growth agenda nationwide.
Those who have the most at risk were completely shut out of the development process in writing the Legislative Guidebook. Career environmental groups were consulted, but property rights associations didn't even know about the guidebook until a few months ago. No black or other minority associations were consulted, according to Harry Alford, president and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.
David Sampson is the Commerce Department's assistant secretary of economic Development, the very agency that would administer the "smart growth" grants under the Senate bill. Mr. Sampson said the Bush administration does not support the legislation, calling it "a centralized approach to land use planning."
All in all, the Senate hearing on S. 975 was like watching a horror movie. Seeing the issues threaded throughout, such as "pedestrian-oriented," creating statutes to preserve "vistas and views," "affordable housing" and "social equity" makes it quite clear that this is just the tip of the iceberg. This type of regulation invariably makes life so miserable for small property owners that they eventually give up. The result is abandoned buildings that give the city justification to come in and bulldoze the area, clearing the way for big developers to come in and put up high-density high-rises. Some would call this the "unintended consequence" of "smart growth." Others believe this is exactly the intent.
Land use involves tough issues, fought out on the local level. It is an exercise in democracy which can at times become very contentious. The intervention of the federal government in land use matters, whether directly or through a funding mechanism, will allow ideologues to exercise undue influence in the process, and thereby disenfranchise local private property owners. S. 975, the "Community Character Act" must be defeated in order to save the individual characters of our communities.
(Note: The United States Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will VOTE tomorrow, Thursday April 12 on S. 975. This bill uses the lure of federal government grant money to require counties and municipalities across the United States to adopt a Federal Zoning Code which will take away local zoning powers. - from American Land Rights Association)
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'Pod
John, editor: Please help w/ping lists.
'Pod
In my particular township, we spent $500,000 about 5 years ago for a very comprehensive zoning and growth plan, but our new Town Chair (elected with the backing of a "conservancy" group) is now spending $300,000 under the guise of "Smart Growth" when essentially, she plans to micro-micro manage every neighborhood. I heard yesterday that the Town is now being sued by a developer because she is trying to stall the development plans (already been approved and zoning requirements fit) to develop a rec center.
Here's the kicker...Wisconsin's Smart Growth money will come from state shared revenue...however, we have a 1.1 billion dollar budget deficit for which the Governor has proposed eliminating shared revenue to balance the budget. Estimates from the fiscal powers in Madison are that Smart Growth will be put off, possibly until 2014, if it continues at all. Of course most of this hinges on the final budget.
Has this stopped our Town Board? NAH! Miss an opportunity to spend money they don't have so they can be control freaks over their own little kingdom? Needless to say, we are and will be working feverishly to remove the current board before too much damage has been done.
I've been to a few Smart Growth meetings...please keep an eye on your state ahd local officials if this is pending in your legislature. THIS IS ORWELLIAN - 1984 VINTAGE and strictly a DemonRAT power grab!
Does this mean a veto, or signing with reservations? What are the chances this gets through the House this year?
Thanks for helping me build character!
1 . Community Character Act of 2001 (Introduced in the House)[H.R.1433.IH] 2 . Community Character Act of 2001 (Introduced in the Senate)[S.975.IS]
Absolutely! That way they can order and control everything according to their own will, w/o spending their own money. Out here the twnchr's wife wanted to inspect everyone's home for code violations, w/o the owner's permission! These green bozos sent out a letter telling the folks in the town they needed to generate more garbage, because we need more state money and more garbage will get us some!
Click S. 975
To improve environmental policy by providing assistance for State and tribal land use planning, to promote improved quality of life, regionalism, and sustainable economic development, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 25, 2001
Mr. CHAFEE (for himself, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. CLELAND, and Mr. LIEBERMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
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Click Thursday, Apr. 18, 2002
Guys, I didn't see anything set for tomorrow {the 12th of April}, so i'm ASSuming that the vote is to be TODAY April 11, 2002. If you note the names of the authors/sponsors of this bill S. 975 "to promote 'improved quality of life', regionalism, and sustainable economic development, and for other purposes", You will see that this bill is a concoction of the elite to benefit the elite. There is NO doubt.3 p.m.
theEnergy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee To hold hearings to examine:
S.1441,
to establish the Oil Region National Heritage Area, {MY????}
S.1526,
to establish the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in the State of Georgia,
S.1638,
to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the French Colonial Heritage Are{a} in the State of Missouri as a unit of the National Park System;
S.1809/H.R.1776,
to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in west Houston, Texas,
S.1939,
to establish the Great Basin National Heritage Area, Nevada and Utah, and
S.2033/H.R. 4004,
to authorize appropriations for the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
SD-366
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In my search, I found that the Energy and Natural Resources / National Parks Subcommittee is having a hearing next Thursday {18 April} to "study" the creation of many more "National Heritage Areas" in many states. MORE federal ownership and/or control of property that can no longer be a part of state property tax rolls. More EVIL!! Sauro, Stay "up" there. I'll try to maintain. GOOD post! Peace and love, George.
It's one of them. Remember those lessons of the twentieth century.
My big fear is that w/ all the crap going on in the middle east and afghanistan right now, this form of tyranny will come into being w/ very few people noticing.
'Pod
Pay no attention to the globalist behind the curtain.
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