To the Editor:
The concern expressed recently by one of our citizens is valid and important. While I am unsure of the end point, it appears to me that our commissioners and our state representatives can be influential in easing the impact of what appears to be chaotic expansion.
Developers should be guided (the approval process for new developments) through requirement of their participation in planning.
Developers should be required, as part of their proposals for land use, to do two critical actions:
- They must be required to study and report on the impact their activity on elements of our society. This should include (not limited) new roads schools, commercial services, provisions in planning for shopping, professional office space, and other amenities that usually accompany significant population growth.
- In addition to the planning, there needs to be substantial financial involvement, as much of what will be identified as needed additions beyond converting forested land to housing, is better accomplished through budget and contribution in a municipality negotiated surcharge.
New construction imposes costs on communities that are both immediate and longer term. Laying the cost of new roads and repair of damaged or weakened roads, among other costs, should be predominantly put to new residents rather than on the pre-existing tax-payers.
John McCabe
Ocala