It seems our national government is doing what it can in an effort to assist the economy whether it is the stimulus package from earlier this year, or the newest effort with the first time buyer tax credits. However, with every effort made by the national government, our local government, at least in this area, seem to be doing all they can to thwart the development efforts.
Now I don't claim to understand the thought process behind some of the programs our national government comes up with, however, at least the intent is clear and for the most part their efforts are to improve the situation. I wish I could say the same for those at the local level.
As a developer in the area just northeast of Charlotte, North Carolina, we continue to battle with our local government officials who view the word "grow" as one four letter word they are trying to avoid. They continue to create legislation and regulation that make it all but impossible to develop a residential community.
After six months of working with the planning department in our area, we were forced to redesign our entire 97 acre project due to the decision to over-rule the direction we had been given by our staff planner. Of course this information was provided the night before our submittal deadline, putting our approval process off for yet another month.
I have dealt with local governments from Utah to the Carolinas, and have yet to find one that makes any effort to work well with developers. It seems that no one wants to raise taxes, but they aren't working to increase the number of tax payers either. If you want to fund and improve your governmental programs, one of these has to change.
Keep in mind, we are not developing a high density small lot development, but one designed for $500,000 to $1.5 million houses. This type of development more than pays for itself in what the owner may benefit from, and yet the hoops keep coming. We have reached the point that we can't afford to give in, due to the increased restrictions that have been put in place even after we put our project in the approval line.
Granted even in our market where the homes prices have continued to increase, we have seen a reduction in sales and an increase in inventory. However, the growth in the area is driving more home buyers here every month, and where some may think "if you build it they will come", we are in the ideal situation of "they're going to come whether you build it or not".
The ones that wade through the bureaucratic heap of red tap and never ending edits and changes will be the ones with product on the ground when the buyers come knocking hoping to take advantage of all the programs the national government has to offer.
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