Norman: They barely even mention water. I'm pretty sure all the people pushing this stuff are from the East Coast who don't understand the arid West. More like Fantasy Cities.
I have disliked Zinke for a long time following his career, but when he came out in strong opposition to privatizing public lands (at least in his state of Montana), I thought, "Well, he's not all bad."
But there's a catch. I read that he advocates transferring public lands to the state. Okay, good- the lands remain in the public. But in Montana law, such transferred lands can be sold to private bidders! Gotta read the fine print with these guys. Zinke's back on my bad guys list.
I amend my own remarks. This issue in Montana is very contentious and shrouded in litigation. It is not at all clear if when the dust settles (if it ever does) that the lands will be open to privatization.
I didn't expect such a dense urbanist perspective from these folks. Even the "Home Sweet Homes" fantasy appears to assume 9+ "homes" per acre, or 4000 sf of "land" per home, assuming 15ish% is used for circulation. Hard to have a defensible perimeter and space for a couple of ATVs with that. Really in any normal development, lots of land is used for non-residential so we're talking pretty dense. I just checked, City of Boulder comes in at 3 units/acre overall, Copenhagen comes in at 11 units per acre. "Copenhagen by the Colorado?"
I say there is plenty of room for more "homes" in the West, it's just locked up in suburbia and exurbia at 1/4, 4, 40 acres per "home." Occupy Buttermilk?
That surprised me, too! The video features a bunch of different speakers and is something like 3 hours long, and their desired density varied a bit, but the basis of their effort is to make homes more affordable by making them, and the lots they are on, smaller. The main speaker, Ed Pinto, said the goal was for 3,800 sf lots. But they don't seem to be fans of multi-family housing. They only talked about single-family detached (although seemed to be open to duplexes).
It doesnt matter where people live - yes, we have (for now) plenty of water in the East. But watching the weather and the temps and the all of the drought - lack of water issues in the West? It dont take too many smarts to understand just how idiotic this is.
Like everything else - folks where there is money to be made - theres little concern HOW!
And on another little item. WHO the hell will have money or credit enough to buy a house because their "affordable" housing? It wont be - no matter how dense they want to pack them together. On top of what our WH felon & his billionaire sidekick are doing.
Just more stupid politicians and greedy people wanting to make a buck.
I would love to know more about Zinke bill. Its hard to believe it is how my rep described it in a letter regarding public land sell offs. Yes, what is that “catch” which my rep left out? (couldnt paste his words)
Where are they going to get the water for all these freedom cities? It does not exist now or in the future.
Norman: They barely even mention water. I'm pretty sure all the people pushing this stuff are from the East Coast who don't understand the arid West. More like Fantasy Cities.
I have disliked Zinke for a long time following his career, but when he came out in strong opposition to privatizing public lands (at least in his state of Montana), I thought, "Well, he's not all bad."
But there's a catch. I read that he advocates transferring public lands to the state. Okay, good- the lands remain in the public. But in Montana law, such transferred lands can be sold to private bidders! Gotta read the fine print with these guys. Zinke's back on my bad guys list.
I amend my own remarks. This issue in Montana is very contentious and shrouded in litigation. It is not at all clear if when the dust settles (if it ever does) that the lands will be open to privatization.
Good old "Executive Orders", Michael!
Maggie, Trump must have purchased 60 reams of the paper they're printed on after he got elected.
Hadnt thought of that! Likely true. Just hard to comprehend - the whole dam mess.
I didn't expect such a dense urbanist perspective from these folks. Even the "Home Sweet Homes" fantasy appears to assume 9+ "homes" per acre, or 4000 sf of "land" per home, assuming 15ish% is used for circulation. Hard to have a defensible perimeter and space for a couple of ATVs with that. Really in any normal development, lots of land is used for non-residential so we're talking pretty dense. I just checked, City of Boulder comes in at 3 units/acre overall, Copenhagen comes in at 11 units per acre. "Copenhagen by the Colorado?"
I say there is plenty of room for more "homes" in the West, it's just locked up in suburbia and exurbia at 1/4, 4, 40 acres per "home." Occupy Buttermilk?
That surprised me, too! The video features a bunch of different speakers and is something like 3 hours long, and their desired density varied a bit, but the basis of their effort is to make homes more affordable by making them, and the lots they are on, smaller. The main speaker, Ed Pinto, said the goal was for 3,800 sf lots. But they don't seem to be fans of multi-family housing. They only talked about single-family detached (although seemed to be open to duplexes).
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the in-depth reporting. So many important details here.
How do these people think any of these properties in the WUI will ever be insured? Putting aside the water question, what about the wildfire danger?
It doesnt matter where people live - yes, we have (for now) plenty of water in the East. But watching the weather and the temps and the all of the drought - lack of water issues in the West? It dont take too many smarts to understand just how idiotic this is.
Like everything else - folks where there is money to be made - theres little concern HOW!
And on another little item. WHO the hell will have money or credit enough to buy a house because their "affordable" housing? It wont be - no matter how dense they want to pack them together. On top of what our WH felon & his billionaire sidekick are doing.
Just more stupid politicians and greedy people wanting to make a buck.
I would love to know more about Zinke bill. Its hard to believe it is how my rep described it in a letter regarding public land sell offs. Yes, what is that “catch” which my rep left out? (couldnt paste his words)
Are these to be 15 minute cities ?
I don't think they've planned things in that much detail yet.