Ice Cream and Transparency

While it may be wintertime and another cold blast from the north is expected any day now, the Taxpayer does not have time to hibernate and must be ever vigilant, particularly during tough times, to make sure the Chesterfield County administration does not get ice cream brain freeze and forget who they work for.

The Taxpayer has closely followed the comprehensive plan, the planning process utilized, and the evolution of the plan, the steering committee, the planning commission, and the Board from day one (That would be April 15, 2009… well we've actually been involved before that but officially).  This plan in its current form and in its original form are the polar bear opposite of what Chesterfield County needs to allow its citizens’ rights to be protected and for them to prosper over the next several generations. 

So we now know that the plan is based upon a HUD funded framework and is not a local plan.  It takes its revised scope of services directly from the Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook, which was produced by the American Planning Association and funded by HUD.  So its DNA is off from the beginning… What part of Chesterfield County do we really want HUD to influence? 

The plan is vague when it needs to be specific.  It is too broad when it needs to be targeted. Ultimately, the plan needs to provide concrete examples that limit the scope of the statements made in the form of recommendations.  Broad statements do not limit the potential impact of the administration through well-intentioned, yet unelected bureaucrats.

The Taxpayer was asked to be specific, so if we must, we shall.  In return, the Taxpayer formally requests that the administration, specifically the planning department, provide specific examples or we will ask that they kindly eliminate the recommendation. The Taxpayer is often left wondering:

•  what does this recommendation mean (in a limiting government context, that means what is the restraint of the scope of the recommendation);
• how will my property rights be affected (in this case protected) and
• how much will this cost (in terms of potential economic development, competitiveness with other local jurisdictions, and from the taxpayers’ purse)?

So without further ado, here are just a few, specific brain freezing questions as found in clean version of the latest comprehensive plan.  Consider it an Friendly’s ice cream sampler...

• On page 21, the plan references public investments. What specific public investments and how much will taxpayer be on the hook?
• On page 22, L5, please identify the specific rural land-use practices or remove.
• On page 22, L6, what does this encouragement look like? Be specific or remove.
• On page 24, L36 Infill Development: Please provide specific examples of how this will be promoted or eliminate.
• On page 24, L40 design innovation: is overly broad and vague please provide specific examples or remove.
• On page 26, L61 refers to incentives to developers. How much are these incentives? What cost will taxpayer be responsible for? The government should not be picking winners and losers.
• On page 26, L62 refers to the broader public benefit. How is this defined? Be specific or remove.
• On page 26, L64 refers to compatibility. Please define environmental constraints by providing specific examples or eliminate.
• On page 26, L66 refers to any areas. Please define what areas will be specifically targeted or eliminate this language.
• On page 28, transportation element. What are the proposed long-term investment solutions? Be specific. What is meant by equitable access and mobility? If this means ADA compliance, then just say so. If it means everyone has a right to free mobility, please eliminate it. The plan also references "a range of mobility needs". What does this mean? Be specific.
• On page 29, what are environmentally friendly transportation facilities? Please be specific and provide examples
• On page 33, T53 what specific TDM requirements will be imposed?
• On page 33, T56 what does the state-of-the-art storm water collection system and transportation improvements cost? How many potholes will not be filled?
• On page 41, E42, what does this recommendation regarding focused strategies mean? Please provide specific examples or eliminate.
• On page 42, E53, what is economic integration? Please provide specific examples or eliminate.
• On page 42, E54, who defines blight? How will a definition be fixed to protect private property rights?
• On page 47, For the housing element, please explain how the balance between residential development and protecting natural environment features is envisioned. Please provide specific examples or eliminate.
• On page 49, H10, what specific regulatory and policy innovations? Please provide specific examples or eliminate.
• On page 55, N6, please provide examples of conservation and proper development practices. Please be specific or eliminate.
• On page 56, N24, please identify specific guidelines for land development that protect open space or eliminate.  Please be specific or eliminate.
• On page 56, N22, please identify examples of integrated management strategies. Please be specific or eliminate.
• On page 59, please provide examples of environmental land-use practices and regulations. Be specific or eliminate.
• On page 60, Q1 what natural features? Please be specific or eliminate.
• On page 60, Q3 what specific green development practices are proposed? Please be specific or eliminate.
• On page 60, Q4 please provide specific examples of which low impact or green site standards will be encouraged or eliminate.
• On page 60, what specific green infrastructure features will be promoted and how? Be specific or eliminate.
• On page 69, please be specific in describing the water demand management techniques that are proposed? Be specific or eliminate.

The Taxpayer wants the administration to be specific and transparent.