[Vwdiesel] Re: OT Ecosystem

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

> I am also concerned about the amount of  farm land 
> that is being lost every year to subdivisions. 


  Here in WA we were forced into the "growth management" plan.  It was 
caused by heavy building in two counties of the state, mandated onto the 
other 37.  It puts final land use decisions onto an APPOINTED board in 
Olympia rather than local voted officials.  The net result was supposed 
to preserve ag land.  Instead IMO it accelerated the usurping of it.  Many 
people scrambled to get possible developments into the development 
stage so that they wouldn't have that option locked out on them.  It 
actually caused a rush to develop and reduce ag land!  A far simpler 
solution would have been to heavily reduce the taxes on ag land.  It 
would encourage farming especially if it's a low net crop and NOT 
encourage development.  Overall loss in tax income likely would 
net reasonably close if not less than the cost of developing, implementing 
and mainting the growth management act.
  Most farmers and land owners are more likely to be better stewards 
of the land than a whole group of activists.  ;-)
    Loren