Greensboro rapidly losing natural areas
Here's something local liberals and conservatives can agree on: The natural areas surrounding our city are in trouble. Every time we lose more acreage to bulldozers and development, we lose part of what makes life worth living. We lose the opportunity to experience quiet, green, awe-inspiring and untarnished nature. Why do we allow this to happen? Money. Big money.
Why don't we take a moment to breathe slowly and deeply and agree to stop selling off our greatest assets? And let's vote for folks who share our need for nature and all that it has to offer.
Bob Beerman
Greensboro
Comments (2)
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Mr. Beerman,
I would suggest you not take your moment to breathe deeply in the area of Liberty Road at the 85 bypass- your elected "leaders" have sanctioned the construction of a crematorium-like asphalt plant and thereby the release of arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, cadmium, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter, and toluene polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and very fine condensed particulates which may cause cancer, central nervous system problems, liver damage, respiratory problems and skin irritation; wheezing or shortness of breath, severe irritation of the skin, headaches, dizziness, and nausea and can affect reproduction, cause birth defects and are harmful to the immune system. Large amounts of harmful "fugitive emissions" are released as the asphalt is moved around in trucks and conveyor belts, and is stored in stockpiles. A small asphalt plant producing 100 thousand tons of asphalt a year may release up to 50 tons of toxic fugitive emissions into the air.
And you thought a housing community was a bad idea?
Posted on November 3, 2007 6:34 AM
2. Urban Sprawl, Individual Property Rights and Development:
The exponential population growth is the single greatest challenge that we as a community face. These population increases challenge our basic values and natural resources. The solutions that we set in motion today will be our legacy. How do we balance our right of economic gain while slowing down urban sprawl? I support the revitalization, adaptive re-use and 'infill' of existing neighborhoods. I propose that the City of Greensboro in conjunction with surrounding communities continue to support and expand the Urban Greenway in all directions by a reallocation of current budgeted tax priorities or by an additional tax for the purchase of land to be held in trust for our heirs. This could be accomplished by an existing agency such as the Piedmont Land Conservancy or another sanctioned group. This public purchase of land will slow urban sprawl thus encouraging infill development while not infringing on individual property rights.
One needs only to look at China and India to propel us towards workable solutions that we choose rather than those that will be forced upon us by the government in the future.
Posted on November 3, 2007 10:33 AM