Let It Go
It's been a while since I've done a political post, so bear with me. Last year the voters in our county decided to go in a complete opposite direction and replaced most conservatives in office with progressives. The sky was falling and some think it still is. Someone always thinks the sky is falling.
Last week the majority of the new County Commissioners decided to terminate all the people that served on the planning commission and make everyone reapply for their volunteer positions. This is a blatant way of cleaning out the appointees from the previous commissioners, and most people around here think that's bad, but I am starting to see some wisdom in it.
I've been blogging here for years about how over developed our little paradise is becoming and I think this present County Commission has the ability to stop all development dead in it's tracks and I hope they can. Whoreington is starting to look like Beaverton By the Sea.
I know some of the Commissioners read this blog, and the ones that don't have their flying monkeys read it to them, so here are some suggestions for you to consider as you attempt to put the breaks on development:
1. No more commercial buildings over 4000 square feet. The only buildings that need to be larger than that are schools, hospitals and agricultural buildings such as dairies. (That last one was for you, Dirk)
2. No houses may be built larger than 2500 square feet.
3. No company can build another building to move into until they have a buyer for their former building (eg. the old Costco Building).
4. Franchise companies wishing to move here must put up a bond with a 25 year commitment to serve our community and any buildings built must be occupied for 25 years. (Again the example is the old Costco building)
5. No new houses may be built until there is 100% occupancy of those homes presently available on the market.
6. Structures unoccupied for over one year must be torn down and the land must be restored to natural habitat.
So let's face it. Clatsop County is never going to be the economic powerhouse that others have imagined. It has been on the verge of being the next San Francisco since 1850 and it's time to give up that dream. Let's get smaller. Let's become unique. Let it go.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 4:00 AM
10 Comments:
That seems like a sound set of rules to go by. It would keep the number of empty buildings to a minimum and that is always a good thing. I may need a house larger than 2500 square feet, though. Where would I keep all of my comic books?
I think the Law of Unintended Consequences kicks in on some of your ideas, but sign me up for one of those 2,500 sf homes. Then I'll have to get rid of some of the accumulated crap around here.
Wouldn't #5 raise the prices of homes beyond reasonable value? And wouldn't that result in going to #6? Which would mean that the county would then have to pay the property owner the overinflated value of the home, due to that pesky Constitution.
And would #6 take into account a downturn in the housing market / economy? (such as we're in now)
I really like what you have to say!
What a shame to see the old Costco(nice building) to sit empty. The goodwill must have bucko bucks to build instead of using exisiting old costco.
You left out one very familiar rule:
When a home purchace is in closing, there shall be a signed declatory statement is attached to the deed and follows forward to furure purchasers that states:
"I understand that to live in the countryside I must turn all of my lights on, inside and outside, including the ones in the oven and microwave and leave them on 24 hours per day while at the same time opposing any and all additional energy sourses proposed."
I think those are sound rules.
Don't forget about getting rid of all vehicles that don't get better than 40mpg and fast food restaurants.
And democrats. Especially the liberal ones.
Darev, Keep them in Missouri.
Mark, 2500 square feet is more than enough for a family. I'd personally like to get down to 750 square feet.
Walt, no. The market would seek its own level. If your price is too high you are stuck. If you really want to get out you lower the price. If you abandon it you lose it and the county wouldn't have to pay the owner, tearing down the structure is a fine.
The Costco building is the result of corporate greed. I will admit that I do shop at Costco, but I feel icky every time I go into the new store. It is grotesque, and I don't think I've bought anything in the new store that wasn't available in the old store. I still can't figure out why all that extra room is needed. Now Warrenton is stuck with a building that isn't good for all that much. It's too big for most any retail shop. It would make a good warehouse if there was any need for a company to store a lot of crap that they can't sell. For
Costco it's no big deal to let the property be unproductive. It probably makes them more money than selling it to a competitor. It is a case of bad stewardship in the community.
Gearhead, they don't need a contract for that here, it's second nature.
Nulaanne, It's so crazy that it has to work.
g, see you can run for county commissioner when Dirk runs for Wu's seat. And don't set your sites on the liberal Democrats. Their tactics are par with those of their conservative counterparts and usually par with the lack of vision and morality.
Rohne for Wu's seat???? Are you kidding? Does he ever LOOK good in a tiger suit?
Hopefully Roehne is a little more friendly to Klingons. If he wants their votes I mean.
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