Re: A Question about LVT


Michael Scheltgen wrote:

I agree with you. How would you knock down the arguments below?

From the SmartGrowthBC webpage:
http://www.smartgrowth.bc.ca/index.cfm?Group_ID=3404

Protecting scarce agricultural land is a key smart growth
strategy for a number of reasons.

* Farmland provides natural capital and a source of local
economic opportunities. A healthy agricultural sector helps
diversify the provincial economy, supporting the livelihood of
over two hundred thousand British Columbians.

In my state, farmland as farmland is worth less than $2,000 per acre.
It's much more valuable as recreational land or building lots.

* Agricultural products increase our food security and supply
and reduce our dependence on imported foods and therefore
associated costs and impacts.

Agricultural products are labor intensive except for grain and
soybeans. Do you want to have a number of low paid workers in your
community?

* Diverse farmlands create a variety of wildlife habitats and
support bio-diversity.

Large commercial farms do away with hedgerows making for a type
ecological desert. And combined with spraying, all sorts of beneficial
insects are eliminated along with the birds that feed on them.

* Open, green spaces near urban areas are a valuable resource,
adding amenity value and providing scenic landscapes, recreation
opportunities, and contribute to our enjoyment of BC's expansive
outdoors.

Those do work if they aren't used to make lot prices exhorbitant.

* The agricultural land reserve has acted as an effective urban
growth boundary protecting against development and urban sprawl
since its legislation was created in 1973.

But that is at the expense of quality of life for urban dwellers.

I would suggest reading the book: Sprawl: a Brief History.

--
Ron

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