Planning

Yesterday we went to SRE which is a regional planning organization. Of particular interest were 2 projects.

A local greenway involving 3 villages is planned for 2018. It is 40-50 km long (maybe 2 km wide) and uses water as its anchor. Ecology, quality of life and local economy (tourism) were of highest priority. They are right now targeting farmers that do not have succesors or own a priority parcel. They will move them to already used ag lands or pay them to leave the ag industry. The cost is 30 to 35 million Euros. That is approx. 48 million dollars.

Second project involved a land use plan. There is an estate totalling 2500 hectares. The breakdown is:

1600 hectares of forest
200 hectares of nature
600 hectares of ag
100 hectares of housing

The owner was not generating enough money to maintain the property so he proposed a plan to develop more residential units to sustain the property. He took 150 hectares and split them up into 60 hectares for housing and 90 hectares for ag. Because the property was rural this was a very hot topic. The proposal contained 60 hectares which is approx 148 acres. What was heard and denied by the council was 20 units. They beleived the owner was too greedy and asked for too much. They have since told him that they will entertain 8 units. Talk about penny wise pound foolish. Now the owner could sell the property subdivided. Could you imagine if our elected officials were this strict to the law. WOW