This Topic: BETTER, NOT BIGGER, Book by Eben V. Fodor, for Freeland

[Bill Frederick]

I just learned of this book which is mentioned in the June 8 Langley Community Forum by Mark Wahl on the topic of growth and the Langley Comprehensive Plan dynamics. See a synopsis of the book by Eben Fodor, "Better, Not Bigger" at <a>http://www.fodorandassociates.com/book/more_info_about_bnb.htm<a>.

Have any of you read his book or digested the essence of this topic of "growth pressure" for what it may really consist of? Perhaps thinking outside our current box of paradigm(s) could help us see how to really keep and enhance Freeland as a place people love to visit, shop, eat, work, walk, bike, live and recreate.

Quoting Mark Wahl's excellent post gives a good summary insight into how responsible local government might look at "growth pressures" I quote Mark for your consideration for application to Freeland's growth:

"Perhaps, with the help of the thought of Eben Fodor, I have truly begun to see what a hype this "growth-pressure" perception, generated by most of what we see in the nation generically called "development," has created. We need to start, as I mentioned in my growth number paper, with the knowledge that much of what poses as growth is artificially stimulated by the phenomenon of speculation. Speculative is an exercise in self-fulfilling prophecies. Fodor masterfully lays out how this happens.
Not at all doing justice to his full argument here (see the Fodor book), I'll just say that "growth calming" is what I'm into, and so are some others in the Comp Plan groups, and this isn't "no growth." One piece of "growth calming" is recognizing that speculative building needs a leash put on it or it can drive a town over a cliff of development from which it is impossible to recover.

"Without real care up front, speculators can allowed to take the profits, externalize costs (and rest assured, most development costs a town a lot), and leave the problems for citizens to try to solve. One of several possible growth calming measures is to require that both an independent market analysis and a percentage of pre-leases or pre-buys is in place before a project permit can be granted. The Coles Road project may never have started with this in place. (Maybe the Highlands would have been slowed down too and even evaluated differently.). . . ."

See his whole statement at <a>http://www.langleycommunityforum.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=3709#3709<a>

[Dean Enell]

Bill,

I've read Eban Fodor's book - it's an eye openner. I think it should be mandatory for all involved in city or county planning. Wouldn't he be a great guest speaker to bring to town.

I'll send him a note and see if there's any possibility here.

Dean

[Anne Pringle]

Yea and Amen. Time somebody got smart about what's going to happen to Freeland. We ought to be able to be smarter about what we're doing in order to keep Freeland a pleasant place to live. This sounds like a great book that all members of our Incorporation Committee should read.
Just insisting that growth is coming, and accomodating growth for its own sake will result in not a very pleasant place.
For instance, the Freeland Subarea Plan would result in a possible ninety (90!) homes to be developed along Freeland Hill, all the way to Whispering Firs.
Just how is the traffic to be accomodated? Using Pleasant View Lane and Cherry St.? Not feasible, and besides, that ridge remains the last important habitat for deer, birds, and forest. The zoning should be changed from what is a really bad idea. That area should stay in five and ten acre parcels.
I know developers salivate over that property, but let's leave something of beauty for our children and grandchildren to enjoy, and leaving something for the wild things. Looking up at a ridge full of houses is not very appealing.
Anne Pringle