[quote=FlyerInHi]Actually if you want organic growth, you do let the landowner/developer build whatever he wants.
What about property rights and getting the best and highest use?
Zoning is a relatively new concept. The organic growth neighborhoods that we love now happened without zoning.
I would argue that without zoning, change would happen much more quickly. The market would adjust and provide profit incentives to deliver the housing that people want.[/quote]
So FlyerInHi, there seems to be a major contradiction in your argument that a free market should solely determine development. One one hand, you say developers should have a right to do whatever they want with their property regardless of its impact on surrounding property owners. But you can’t have it both ways. If you want a “hands off” style of government, then you must also believe in the rule of individual property owners/citizens.
So what happens to individual property owners’ rights when a project like One Paseo dramatically impacts their lives and property (not to mention the environment, public safety, as well as so many other factors)? Do individual property owners’ rights go away just because a developer has a right to make a profit? Can’t have it both ways.
There’s a logical reason that community plans and zoning regulations were implemented. They provide a framework, albeit imperfect, for working out these kinds of issues.
