Quail Oaks mess rooted in council’s limited sight
The tragedy of errors that is resulting in several northeast Greensboro residents losing their homes and being relocated at taxpayer expense (“In the Bull’s-eye,” May 3) shows the consequences of our elected officials’ failure to connect the dots and consider all the ramifications of their actions. The City Council in 2000 OK’d what became known as Quail Oaks, a housing development immediately adjacent to the Urban Loop’s future interchange with U.S. 29. Lots continued to be sold there five years later, even after it was known that the highway interchange would need to be rerouted right through the new neighborhood.
As a result, the dreams of many new homeowners have been thwarted, and large sums of taxpayer dollars wasted, while the developers and real-estate company are getting off scot-free.
Elected officials should balance the interests of developers with those of the community as a whole. One reason I am running for council is to make sure that our city better manages its growth.
Ironically, Quail Oaks represents the kind of urban sprawl that is perpetuated by planning centered around building roads like the Urban Loop. Zoning policies should encourage smarter development that takes advantage of existing infrastructure, reduces dependence on cars and enhances the livability of our neighborhoods.
Joel Landau
Greensboro
The writer is a candidate for City Council in District 4.
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