It's Really All About ...
County Council - You Get What You Vote For!
Do you check out the people you vote for before you vote? Do you always vote for incumbents? You may be part of the problem! Do you realize that at least one of our Council members is a mortgage broker? Do you realize that at least one of our Council members has been a real estate closing attorney since 1999..."? Do you realize that at least one of our Council members is a Branch Manager for mortgage company? Attorneys, mortgage companies, banks, developers, home builders and real estate agents do not have the citizens' best interests at heart; they're in business to make money. The more homes they can cram into a small area, the more profit they make. Attorney's fees, mortgage fees, mortgage loans, new home sales, they all generate money for those people working in those businesses. So if they can cram 250 homes onto 50 acres of land, it means more revenue. The effects on the local community? They couldn't care less.
Dorchester County Council Promotes Urban Sprawl Without Regard for the Wellbeing of Their Constituents
One of the beautiful features of Dorchester County is its pristine, rural areas. Yet Council has placed no limits or restriction with regard to acreage requirements for building new homes. So instead of having a graduated plan like this: 1/2 acres minimum lots per residence for 1 year, followed by a minimum lot acreage of 1 acre for 3 years, followed by a minimum lot acreage of 2 acres in order to properly space out home and maintaining the rural beauty of Dorchester County, they are allowing building on 1/3 acre lots and "zero lot lines", which will allow developers to cram as many homes as they can into their 50 to 100 acre purchases. This is promoting "urban sprawl". Question: Do you want Dorchester County to end looking like downtown Charleston? You're already too late! Developments already exists with houses crammed so close together that they have turn-offs on the roads to allow parking. There has been very little regard shown by Council for privacy or infrastructure development. Take for example a plan submitted by a developer to cram 380 homes onto 160 acres in Ridgeville. It has already been established that the long-term cost to the County outweighs the projected tax revenue by $2.3 million! That represents your cost to destroy the rural integrity of Dorchester County. And what will they do to accommodate the vehicle traffic created by this urban sprawl? Suck your property up to widen our existing roads so that you have the equivalent of 17A in front of your house.
The Rights of Land Owners Versus the Responsibility of County Council
First of all let's make it clear, we do not believe that "the Government" [a.k.a. County Council) has the right to tell a land owner he can't sell his property or can't build on his property. That's not their responsibility. Their responsibility is to regulate the use of that land for the good of all its citizens. They should be able to designate industrial and business zones so that you don't have a tire manufacturing plant move in next door to your residence. They should also be controlling the rate of growth and expansion. They should be using County funds to purchase tracts of land to ensure we have "green areas", parks and recreational areas, to enjoy our County. They should be restricting developers to utilizing a minimum 1 acre, 2 acre or more lot sizes, not "zero lot lines" or 1/3 acre lots.
Why?
Consequences of "Urban Sprawl"
Consequences of "Urban Sprawl"
Consequences of "Urban Sprawl"
The long-term consequences of urban sprawl are myriad. For one, crime rates in urban areas are greater than those in rural areas (Reference: Rural and Urban Victimization Report) The more you pack people into small areas, the more crime you will have. It's just a fact. For example, according to 1995 statistics from the Uniform Crime Reports, in U.S. metropolitan areas, homicide claims 11 victims per 100,000 inhabitants and more than 25 per 100,000 in some of the largest cities. In small cities and in rural counties, homicide claims only 5 victims per 100,000, and fewer than 2 per 100,000 in our most rural states (Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics).
Another issue is water and sanitation. While current codes do require areas for storm water runoff, they in no way take into consideration all of the facts. For example, a new high-density development planned for, again, Ridgeville will cram about 107 single-family homes into 62 acres, only about 40 acres of which is actually buildable because the remainder is designated as a wetland. And I'll bet you any money no one has done a detailed study on the long-term affects of draining all the displaced water into the existing wetlands, including what affects it will have on existing land owners' property located adjacent to the wetlands and who also use those wetlands to drain off rainwater. In the case of the 380-home planned development in Ridgeville, the current sewer system will only support 150 homes. No problem, the developer will cram 150 homes in now and wait until we spend more tax money in increase the sewer capacity!
Here's a question for you: Do you think property values would be greater in a development (subdivision) where the lots are 1 acre or greater or where the lots are "zero lot line" or 1/3 acre? Pretty silly question, isn't it? Of course the property in the development that has 1 or more more acres per residence will command a higher price than those with virtually no land at all. But that won't make the developers the "up front" that comes with cramming as many homes into as little a space as possible. The Bible has it pegged, "the love of money is the root of all evil."
"They" Won't Listen
Consequences of "Urban Sprawl"
Consequences of "Urban Sprawl"
Ever been to one of these zoning "hearings"? I have, and so have several people I know. The people in charge are Council hirelings, not elected officials like County Council. But these people forget that they don't actually work for Council, they work for the people who pay their salaries or give them their positions ... us, the taxpayers of Dorchester County! I've heard them talk down to concerned citizens and, at times, are borderline disrespectful. So it's not these people we need to concern ourselves with; it's the individuals who give them their position and power. And that, my neighbor, lies with the members of County Council. This is where you, no, we come in! If the current members of Council continue to allow urban sprawl to form the future of Dorchester County, in simple terms ... they need to go! We need to find like-minded citizens who care more about the people of Dorchester County than they do the developers and associated industries who make money by creating urban sprawl and elect them to serve on County Council! That includes you! And we need to foster the existing members of Council who fit the bill. While we do not specifically endorse Council candidates at this time, we must point out that one candidate in particular has expressed some concern over the spread of urban sprawl in Dorchester County. That candidate is Harriet Holman. Ms. Holman has apparently recently switched from one political party to another but this isn't about political parties folks. It's about supporting those candidates who will better serve the people of Dorchester County and not formulate a "master plan" based on overcrowding and urban sprawl. At one such zoning hearings, Ms. Holman made no bones about voicing her concerns about some of the development plans being submitted for approval, including the 160-acre, 380-home proposal which would cost the County at least $2.3 million in taxpayer funds above that which the development would generate in tax revenue.
So Where Do We Go from Here?
Consequences of "Urban Sprawl"
So Where Do We Go from Here?
First of all, we go for the political jugular. Do you research before you vote! Don't vote for people associated with land development and its associated businesses: attorneys, developers, contractors, mortgage companies and banks, real estate and other related businesses. Oh, and if they're married, check out what business their spouse is in as well. You'd be surprised how many Councilmen and their spouses are associated with these type of businesses! But let's be fair, let's first contact your County Councilman/woman and ask them if they support building codes that promote urban sprawl, such as minimum lot sizes below 1 acre. Ask them what they are doing to prevent urban sprawl destroying rural Dorchester County. This isn't a race issue. It isn't a religion issue. It isn't a gender issue. It's an issue that affects each and every citizen of Dorchester County. The people in the businesses listed above have a lot of money and time to spend running for office. But they can't win without your vote folks!
You can find an email address to contact your Councilman/woman on the Dorchester County website. You don't even need to spend a dime! In the near future, you will hopefully be able to post their responses on this website.
We also hope to produce bumper stickers that read:
Stop Urban Sprawl
If you think urban sprawl won't affect you, you're wrong! It's just a matter of time. Crime increases. Tax increases. Commute times. Congestion. Property values. It's all coming your way and unless you act now to prevent it, you'll end up living in it.