Monday, February 15, 2010

What Goes Around, Comes Around

The American Planning Association put up one of its historic Planning Advisory Service documents this month for all to consider, Hot Rods, Car Clubs and Drag Strips. After reading it, I was surprised how easily it would be to substitute one of today's more popular activities, off road recreational vehicles, for the hot rods.

The PAS report, from 1955 discusses how popular hot rods and drag racing were becoming in that era. It provided information on how some communities were adapting to these new demands by creating areas for car clubs and even sanctioned drag strips.

Today, the same could be said about the two, three and four wheel off-road recreational vehicles, except that the idea that areas should be set aside for sanctioned activities.

As planners, we should think about the needs of everyone in the community. Do we have significant, moto-cross type activities occurring? Do they have sanctioned, safe facilities? Can the community find a location for such a facility? If so, perhaps the same approach as took place in the 1950's for hot rods and drag strips should be taken for these newer activities.

Just something to think about. We can learn from our past, and repeating these lessons may not be a bad idea.

What goes around, most certainly comes around when it comes to recreational activities.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Affordable Housing Change

The headlines are screaming it:

Affordable Housing Changes Pushed

Town Struggles with Affordable Housing

Suggestions Abound on Affordable Housing Rules

Governor Freezes Affordable Housing Rules

Unfortunately, these do not come from here in Massachusetts.

Affordable Housing Changes Pushed In New Jersey

Mount Laurel Struggles with Affordable Housing

Suggestions Abound on Affordable Housing Rules

Christie Freezes Affordable Housing Rules

These stories out of New Jersey illustrate the battles that are ensuing over housing development and growth. Mount Laurel is the focal point, as always. The town that was the landmark fair housing court battle both in the 1970's and 1980's. In their recent struggles, they have met their initial obligations. Prepared a plan for achieving the "third round" rules, only to find that the bar was raised substantially further.

Mount Laurel is near, if not at, build-out. Achieving targets for over 1,400 new housing units throws out the concept of build-out.

Here in Massachusetts, the bar is about to be raised in a similar fashion. The upcoming 2010 census will establish new base housing counts. The number of units of year round housing will surely increase, even in "built out" communities. With the completion of this new count, the bar will go up.

As we talk about the future of Chapter 40B, and it is being talked about, just not at the level it is in New Jersey, we need to recognize that the new census is going to generate significant ammunition for both sides. Total housing units created and the ratio that is deed restricted affordable will become new fodder. Towns that are near 10% will find the gap, quite likely grew once again. Pro-40B voices will be quick to point out the increase in the gap. Housing growth rates will illustrate the continued loss of open land, growth of housing in areas not served by transit or near job centers. Anti-40B voices will obviously pick up on these issues.

It is time for everyone to sit down. Chapter 40B, the State Housing Inventory, and which houses count towards "affordability" need to be hammered out. Cities and towns that are inherently affordable should be recognized. Partnering programs, like use to be in existence in New Jersey, need to be considered. The zoning override, or "builder's option," needs to be reigned in. This will require the Housing Appeals Committee to rethink its process and its philosophical position. High density, low income, housing in the wrong spot does not make sense. Similarly, the lack of work force housing costs everyone in the end.

We need a solution. What we have is broken, from whichever side of the discussion you might fall on.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera... Where's the Outrage?

Saw this in today's paper, When the signs say 'walk'. A major commercial real estate speculator walked away from $4.4 BILLION in loans. Dropping that debt, ultimately, on all of us as part of the bank bailout. The speculator walks away with other investments worth $33 BILLION.

Essentially, the investors took a risk. Buying rent controlled property, with the idea that they could escape these controls and sell the properties at a large mark-up. Unfortunately, they overpaid for a fully rented, performing property. Paying more for the project than the rents could support, with the idea that they could quickly flip the housing for quick cash.

They lost the gamble, and we will all pay.