Do you dig development?
Three reasonably-sized projects have been approved since February for an intersection near Forest Oaks.
We ran a story today about that and a community group involved on the ground level in the planning process - and how they got a bit of what they wanted out of the deal.
It reminds me of my hometown and how grocery stores soon pooped up on every corner in a bunch of expansion (that seems unending). Where there were farms there are now shopping centers and residential developments.
And it's happened around the Triad, too. Though what hit Raleigh and Charlotte in past years is beginning to show up here.
So development is coming, like it not. If you had a developer buy 60 acres across from your backyard fence, what would you like to see them do with it? How would you make that known?
Comments (3)
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Posted on April 11, 2008 7:44 AM
The pace of development when it comes is scary. Some development is good, however it seems once an area gets water/sewer or new schools the development comes uncontrolled and at overwhelming speed. Residents are often unaware of proposed development for the area because developers place a few small signs on the property and that is all the notice the local community receives. The major benefit of the Community Association is that they can be the watch dogs for the community and make the community aware of new development proposed for the area. It is very hard to fight development even when you are aware of it, when members of local government many times have vested interests in the projects, whether it be financially or politically. But the local community presenting a united front can get some concessions, which can make the situation considerably better. I do have one major major problem and that is that the planning board and county commissioners take no responsibility for making sure area schools can support the growing student population. This to me is criminal that our local government can take a blind eye to the impact that fast pace development can have on schools. Packing kids into schools like sardines and squeezing them through core facilities that were meant to support 65 - 70% of the student population is deplorable! Assuring quality schools should be the responsibility of every local government entity.
Posted on April 13, 2008 8:33 AM
The pace of development when it comes is scary. Some development is good, however it seems once an area gets water/sewer or new schools the development comes uncontrolled and at overwhelming speed. Residents are often unaware of proposed development for the area because developers place a few small signs on the property and that is all the notice the local community receives. The major benefit of the Community Association is that they can be the watch dogs for the community and make the community aware of new development proposed for the area. It is very hard to fight development even when you are aware of it, when members of local government many times have vested interests in the projects, whether it be financially or politically. But the local community presenting a united front can get some concessions, which can make the situation considerably better. I do have one major major problem and that is that the planning board and county commissioners take no responsibility for making sure area schools can support the growing student population. This to me is criminal that our local government can take a blind eye to the impact that fast pace development can have on schools. Packing kids into schools like sardines and squeezing them through core facilities that were meant to support 65 - 70% of the student population is deplorable! Assuring quality schools should be the responsibility of every local government entity.
Posted on April 13, 2008 8:33 AM