The issue of restricting the continuing growth of the public domain within Cook County is not new. Unfortunately our government appears to forget of its works in the past and thus we must again fund their adventures in rediscovery. In these modern days of data juggling extraordinaire, I would think we could do better.
As to whether to restrict the continuing growth of the public domain itself, the obvious question is how much is enough? I have no issue with the idyllic notion that the best juxtaposition of man and his environment are centralized hamlets of commerce surrounded by bountiful areas where nature rules supreme. Most reasonable people would agree that Cook County and Grand Marais have achieved the virtual pinnacle of such a balance.
When we hear every four years of the need for more jobs, affordable housing and the pain of increasing taxes, it is precisely because we are facing the sacrifices that the reservations of such natural areas results in.
Jobs, affordable homes and reasonable tax rates are more directly served by maintaining what little commerce exists, rather than adding another hundred acres to the already millions that exist. Especially because compensatory funding is a mere pittance compared to tax base losses.
I am not summarily against expansion if a truly unique parcel seems to warrant such action. I am however against individual property owners or non-profits arbitrarily doing so by deed based upon their personal whims or interests. Such actions are a perversion of our local zoning structure and tax base, ultimately leaving the desires of individuals—no matter how noble their cause might sound—to be shouldered by the rest of the community rather than themselves.
Approval of any such zoning alterations should be required of the broad citizenry that will have to pay for it, or should include the financing into perpetuity to make such actions tax base neutral.
As to changes in lands by direct governmental fiat, the priority should be the maintenance of the existing tax base. I would think that for the members of our board whose noble calls for more jobs, housing and stable taxes of last November still ring in our ears, this conclusion should be rather obvious.
It seems to me that at 93.5 % of public versus 6.5 % private, this county, town and commerce have sacrificed enough, while providing an exemplary and enviable mix of wild to urban.
Vilnis Neilands
Grand Marais
Leave a Reply