JG Excerpt:What this article really says is – Janesville will continue to pull fully developed (established sidewalks and utilities) inner-city properties including riverfront off the tax rolls to provide additional green space for the increase in city population expected from the new homes being built on the wide-open swaths of virgin green space ringing the fringes of the city.
It recommends that the city buy property adjacent to regional and some neighborhood parks as it becomes available to provide recreational flexibility and better use of the larger parks. As part of the study, the city surveyed residents, including the members of 32 special-interest groups. Many residents suggested improvements to existing parks and new purchases, such as more riverfront land.
So, not only are we pulling some of the most attractive properties off the tax rolls, we are adding to the annual maintenance budget. Perhaps the worst part is this plan forces any new residential or commercial development to the open space edges thereby increasing the city's carbon footprint - AND offering a TIF District on top of it all. They call this Smart Growth?
4 comments:
Nobody has the right to tell people they can't sell their land or build on it just because it's at the outer edges of a city. You crack me up.
But the city of Janesville could start buying some of the open land when it comes on the market to create a buffer reining in the apparent infinite annexation requests. This would eventually drive growth inward for a more efficient quality of life.
Wait to you see what the Smart Growth expanding tax base will do to your property tax bill over the next three years. Keep your sense of humor....you'll need it.
My sister lives in Eugene, Oregon, which is viewed as enlightened for land use. The city drew a line around itself and prohibited all development beyond the perimeter. The result? Land in the city became so valuable people sold their homes which were torn down and 3 houses built with no yards. Working people are completely priced out of home ownership. Only the wealthy profited by another high minded so called environmental experiment. Then environmentalists who pushed the policy left the city for roomier quarters. After visiting Eugene, it is great to be back in Janesville to see yards, parks, and affordable housing.
I like Janesville's layout also, otherwise I wouldn't be here. But the love affair with the automobile could be coming to an end.....and so are the costs to heat/ac giant 5,000 square foot homes with 20 ft ceilings. And I'm not even thinking about waste and water utilities. Also Janesville is surrounded by some very unique and fertile soil. It's highest use may be for growing food AND energy.
Janesville has a lot of small to medium sized parks hodge-podged throughout the city where homes could be, perhaps even a highrise or two. While Janeville has several large and outstanding parks that receive little maintenance and feature money because the funds are spread too thinly.
Personally, I think the city should take Riverside Park or the area around Marling and turn it into a miniature version of Navy Pier or something on that order.....a world class park. Then set aside some other inner city parkland for a developer to build affordable housing AND sell off some that scattered riverfront property they've been buying. Build in and up...not out.
Post a Comment