Chesterfield County's Utopian Dream

The Taxpayer is a big fan of science fiction, and in that genre there is a standard theme that starts off talking about a glorious grand future that was created to in response to some disaster.  The opening theme of these stories start by explaining how civilization was saved from destruction and now it is an utopia.  They usually have some opening monologue that tells the history that came before and then includes a distribution of how good things are at the time of the story. 

If someone was writing story of that sub-genre about Chesterfield County in 2035 they might include a passage like the following, which is the vision statement from our Comprehensive Plan.

“In the year 2035, Chesterfield County is a great place to live, work and play, with a strong economy, an efficient and open government, and vibrant neighborhoods. It is composed of communities, centers, countryside and corridors that provide a balanced mix of land uses, densities, and lifestyle choices. Our high quality transportation system offers mobility choices, accessibility and connectivity countywide and to the surrounding region, providing access to neighborhoods and jobs in a safe and efficient manner.

Our natural, cultural and historical resources are protected, preserved and enhanced; providing economic benefit, opportunities for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors and education for all citizens. We have access to our natural resources through a comprehensive system of green ways and trails, bike paths and walkways; and livable streets. We have villages and centers where jobs, housing, public facilities, cultural opportunities and recreational activities are within walking distance of one another. We also have places that are quiet, rural and serene. Together, the range of places in the county offers a varied community and a high quality of life that supports the county’s economy and the social health and well-being of our residents.

We manage our resources, both natural and man made, to establish and maintain our well being, making us resilient to changing economic forces. Through effective planning we maximize critical linkages between jobs, housing and transportation. To further enhance the county’s economic future, we successfully promote the quality of our schools, communities and built environment, pedestrian accessibility and broad housing choices for all people regardless of their age, background, income or stage in life. Our communities are vibrant and stable places; attractive to private investment through financial commitment to the public revitalization efforts with new development and build upon their architectural, historic and natural assets to create or strengthen our sense of community within both new and existing places. We are safe and well-served countywide by our public services. We have an outstanding school system and educational opportunities that include job training, workforce development and higher education. We are attractive to new businesses - encouraging the expansion of existing businesses and promoting entrepreneurship through our community assets which include our well-trained workforce, our quality of life, our infrastructure and our community reinvestment.

Through data-driven decisions, our land development planning practices are consistent and predictable. We practice fiscal responsibility, balancing reasonable revenue expectations with our ability to provide timely and cost-effective facilities and services. Through our collaborative work with neighboring jurisdictions, we have achieved a level of regional cooperation that benefits our residents. Ensuring that our actions are of maximum benefit to all county residents, we are pragmatic in our approach to planning boldly for our future. We confidently navigate evolving realities pertaining to the national economy, housing, energy and sustainability to achieve our vision. 

We are strong and resilient and excited about the possibilities the future will bring. We are innovative and diligent in implementing our comprehensive plan, understanding that implementation is a collaborative effort between government, business and residents. Our success is measured not by the aspirations of our vision, but by what we have achieved for ourselves and for future generations”

 

The story then continues, setting up the main characters and at that point we start getting glimpses of the dark side of this utopia society.  It starts with minor things, such as finding out that the neighbors down the street was fined for having a plant in their yard that was not allowed.  Then we find out about someone else that spent a weekend in jail, because they pruned their tree incorrectly.  Then we hear about a young man that was hauled away and forced to do 80 hours of community service, because he played his car stereo too loud.  As we move further into the story, we hear and are exposed to more and more examples of this darker side of this future.  Each time the crime against society gets a just a little more severe, but the punishment keeps getting even more extreme. 

At some point, the hero or heroine of the story run a foul of the law.  Usually it starts out small, but as they try to stand up for their rights, their situation gets worse and worse.  Until at some point it is them against society and they are fleeing to some secret place where things are not perfect, but where they are free to live as they please.

What kind of plan would lead to this future?  Certainly not this plan... but when the Taxpayer reads that vision statement we see Chesterfield moving towards that path.  It might not be 2035, it might 2055 or even 2135, but we are moving towards a future where rights have been given up so that we can live in a gilded cage.  The price we pay to the government to restrict the rights of our neighbor in order to structure our society in the way some believe is best, is we must give up our rights that are necessary to live our life as we want.