Rural life is changing

[Bird]

Wow, Paul, you do have some strict regulations. We have practically none compared to you. One reason I bought the 10 acres I have was to move my parents' mobile home here, too. I had to get a permit to put in a second septic system, had to put in a second water meter (one residence per meter is the rule), had to put the right kind of pole, conduit, weatherhead, etc. for the electric company's approval, and beyond that, do anything I wanted to (or could afford to pay for).

A friend of mine is in the hay business and has several hay fields scattered around over this end of the county which he has leased, and within the past 3 three years, at least 3 of them have sold with the new owners dividing them up into 1 to 5 acre plots. Some have new site built houses on them, but the majority are new manufactured homes (mobile homes) going in. But of course, the area is still developing quite slowly.

In fact, I'd like to sell my place if I could get 90% of what I've put into it./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[JATO_RaT]

Pete, while I sympathize with you, I must say that its like that in many places. Out here in Northern California where I have lived my whole life, I have seen so many changes. Seems our weather made a lot of folks from New York and elsewhere want to live here. So by the millions they have come. Its rare to talk to someone who actually grew up here. When I was young, there where far more fields then homes.

Where I live now its pretty and rural but a stones throw from many folks. I can still build an agricultural barn with no restrictions and no permit, the only county in California where that is still allowed. If I put in a toilet they check only the leech lines and septic system. I know at some point this will change, but for now its nice to know that government does'nt regulate every aspect of everything. Rat...

 

[ejb]

Gotta say I have mixed feelings about overly agressive planning boards. I live in a small town (800 people) and own a big chunk of land around me (175 acres), with about another 1500 acres protected across the street. I hope the town doesn't grow to fast, and if it does I'll probably move someplace else more rural...the problem I have with a lot of planning boards trying to tell people what they can and can't do with there land is that a lot of the time it stinks of people who moved into the country, got their little "piece of paradise" and now want to pull up the welcome mat for anyone else that may want to do the same. In a lot of places living in these little towns is the only afforable option for a many people. In general, the farther you get from the big population areas, the cheaper land gets.

Its a tough call, but most of the time the people that are calling for rules on what can and can't be developed are essentially saying, I have my piece of paradise, and I don't want you messing it up. I have to admit, I feel the same way some times, but I am in general against any rules that prevent private land-owners from developing the land that they paid for and that they pay taxes on...

I am much more in favor of private organizations buying up land they want to protect and then putting it into conservation.

 

[TerryinMD]

Not to be a conspiracy proponent, but one should take a look at how your planning boards/county commissioners/local government is made up. From what I have seen in the recent past, developers and real estate agents have gotten envolved with land usage via elected office and, guess what, things start changing after that. I agree that a person should be able to use their land as they see fit. It just irks me to see good land go to waste to build overpriced pandimoniums (high density housing). Enough of this soapbox!!! Country is country and should stay that way. Where do the urbanites think that their for comes from?? No country, no food!! No country, less clean air!! on and on.......

 

[bpence]

We used to play a game with the kids driving home from somewhere at night. When we'd pass through town and get to a certain spot, everyone guessed how many cars we'd see from that point to home. 20 years ago it might be 1 or 2. 15 years ago, 3 or 4. Now, you have to dodge 8 or 10 coming out of the new driveways just outside the village limits. Yep, the country is changing. Three years ago a large dairy farm just south of us ceased operations and began to sell off the land: 2 1/2 to 10 acre parcels. To see the place today you would never know any farming operation had ever existed there. The orginal house and barn complex is gone and lots of brand new big homes with long paved driveways. Personally, I liked looking at the holsteins a whole lot more.

Bob Pence

 

[GlueGuy]

I don't feel too bad about agressive planning commision here. I've seen what happened in LA and San Diego counties, and it isn't pretty. Urbanization pretty much took over everything.

Here in San Mateo County (which is still over 80% rural), some visionaries started the open space district some 30 years ago. Now a large percentage of that 80% rural area is protected from urbanization through various means. Some of it is actual open space, some is still privately owned, but the owners have been paid to maintain it as rural (conservation easement).

The end result is that the urban areas are highly concentrated and efficient, yet there is a lot of open areas for everyone to enjoy. This is truly a beautiful place to live, and it's nice to know that a lot of the natural beauty will be around for a while.

The GlueGuy

 

[looch]

San Mateo, eh? I have relatives in Burlingame. I was there in 1986. Made a trip up one of the mountains (don't know the name) to watch Haley's comet. Nice country.

Small world.

 

[Bill_Ryan]

Guys....I hear the same pee'n and moan'n all the time from locals here.

Outsiders and/or developers can't buy if locals don't sell!

Seems our neighbors may ***** about it, but when it comes their turn they'll sell for the $$$$ and forget their neighbors.

Happens here and everywhere.

 

[TerryinMD]

Ouch!!!! I believe Bill speaks the truth.....

 

[fuzzmental]

Yeah! - Country is country so stay the heck out! We were here first! Come on guys, this is the United States. My wife and I grew up in rural settings and after college wound up in a metro area yearning for open space. Three years ago we built our dream house on 11 acres. We have re-created a turn of the century (1900) farm house that everyone thinks was a remodel. Our slice of land is in an area that is zoned 4 residences per 40 acres with a 2 1/5 acre minimum and hopefully it stays that way. We love it but after reading this thread I now feel like one of those evil urbanites. I appreciate and understand the passion for rural living, in fact I don't want our gravel road paved and will probably join any fight to keep out the seemingly inevitable big box retailers but I have just as much right as anyone to pursue happiness. I just have a hard time with people screaming NIMBY once they have theirs. Remember, everyone was a newby in the country at some point.

I will end by saying that in our neck of the woods the main issue is folks moving out and then wanting every convenience (Wal-mart, grocery stores, Home Depots, McDonald's, etc.) they left. That is where most of our problems begin and end.