PROTECTING PROPERTY OWNERS' RIGHTS

By Marilyn Hyland

Why the Western Hamilton County Collaborative Plan is a bad idea

If accepted, this plan will establish zoning policies that will make it easier and more cost-effective for developers to build subdivisions and shopping centers. The impact on farmland will be devastating. Although some landowners might desire to sell their property to developers, many who would prefer to keep their land will be forced to sell because of the economic strain that will result from surrounding development.

Furthermore, the Western Hamilton County Collaborative Plan will encourage urban sprawl which studies have shown is self-perpetuating. The more people you have, the more roads must be built or widened to accommodate the increase in traffic. The more highways you have, the more development results, and so on. This, of course, will result in more pollution at a time when we are trying to reduce the amount of smog in Greater Cincinnati.

The U.S. Census Bureau projects the Western Hamilton County Collaborative Plan will result in nearly 50,000 more people living in western Hamilton County by 2020. Many of those individuals will undoubtedly come from the city of Cincinnati. Instead of encouraging urban sprawl, we should implement policies that encourage people to remain closer to city, and protect our farms and forests for generations to come.