Wide open spaces

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on April 26, 2007 - 6:17am.
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North Carolina lost 2.4 million acres of open space in the past 20 years.

And it will lose another 2 million acres over the next two decades if development continues at its current rate, according to a report by Environment North Carolina. (N&O)

The state is also losing farmland, including about 1,000 farms in 2005.

"The average age of farmers is getting up in the high 50s, and about the only retirement plan they've got is the land — to sell it," said a fifth-generation farmer in Leicester. (AC-T)

Advocates of land preservation used the report as part of their argument for the legislature to put a $1 billion bond referendum before voters this fall.

Rep. Lucy Allen, a Louisburg Democrat who is sponsor of the bond bill, noted that it would have competition from other budget needs, but she said it is urgent.

"There are going to be no second chances," she said. "As a former school board member and former mayor, I have many times heard people say, 'Yes, we need to do that but now is not the time.' ... I will tell you, there will not be another chance like we have right now to do this." (AP)

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Re: Wide open spaces

Submitted by bnartist on April 26, 2007 - 11:02am.

Dallas,

I thought you supported open government. :)

There are plenty of options besides government owning property like conservation easements.

gregflynn

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Re: Wide open spaces

Submitted by JacksonTodd on April 26, 2007 - 9:56am.

Please contact the U.S. Census Bureau, they consider over 95% off space to be open in North Carolina.

This effort is and will always be about making govt. bigger.

My back yard is not considered open space but the same property would be "open" if it was owned by govt.

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Re: Wide open spaces

Submitted by Anglico on April 26, 2007 - 7:20am.

There are critical moments in political history where leaders have the chance to think and plan with the long view in mind. This is one of them. Rep. Allen says it well. There are going to be no second changes.

It might be more accurate to argue that there will be second chances, but taking advantage of them will be so cost-prohibitive as to thwart any action.

It'll be interesting to see who steps up to support this - and who doesn't. One thing for sure, you can count on the free-market fundamentalists to get up in arms about the mean old government interfering in private bidness.

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