Organic Zoning

Of concern to many residents of unincorporated Boulder County is the county's headlong rush towards zoning large amounts of space as Special Character districts.  These districts will have a multitude of new restrictions placed on private property use.

I propose a new kind of zoning: Organic Zoning.

Organic Zoning is pretty much what we have right now except that restrictions on certain uses would be eliminated. Specifically, height restrictions on wind towers and the current restrictions on solar panels would be removed.  Other silly restrictions (e.g. on covered garages on property set back from public highways) on land use would also be eliminated.

The idea is that land would be developed "organically".  That is, without constant oversight from county government.

Property owners would be encouraged to purchase air rights from other property owners if they wish to preserve views.

The county would encourage a market in property rights.  For instance, if a property owner is concerned that an adjacent property would be sold in such a way that a large house would be built on it, thus disturbing the character of the neighborhood or otherwise disturbing the esthetics of the neighbor, the two neighbors could (and should) enter in a contract limiting house sizes.

How is this different than the so-called Transfer Development Rights (TDRs)? TDRs are mandatory and are created to absolutely limit growth in Boulder. This steals value from property owners and is thus immoral.

Organic Zoning is purely voluntary. It allows development if the developer is willing to pay the, for instance, air right owner(s) an amount sufficient to compensate them for the, for example, loss of a view.

By making the system voluntary, no one loses property rights ... and yet, the special character of places like Allenspark is preserved.

Vote Libertarian to preserve character, go green, and preserve property rights.