The TCC and over 100 community leaders recently heard the sometimes inherent and disparaging conflict between managing growth and so called “smart growth” policies. A couple of business leaders from Frederick County, Maryland shared their story at the October 3, 2006 Lunch & Learn, and outlined the unintended consequences of these policies and conflict.

Mark Friis, AICP, and Mark Lancaster, a small business owner in Fredrick, explained to the audience of Triangle elected leaders, planners and opinion leaders that there have been several negative impacts of these policies in Frederick County including:

• Fee Creep and No Housing Choice: Fees, excise taxes and transfer taxes on new homes are now over $30,000 per new home (this does not include permitting costs). The fees started at a modest $3,000 in the 1990s, and have steadily increased over the years. Housing choice is non-existent. Homeowners have to be wealthy to afford a new home.
• Property Taxes Continue to Increase: Despite the claim that “impact fees and transfer taxes” pay for growth, property taxes in the area continue to increase. Last year alone, the property assessment in Frederick County increased 56%.
• Excessive Sprawl: In order for first time homeowners to afford a home in Frederick County, they actually have to drive to another state. Because the average cost of new home is so high in the county, new homeowners have to drive to West Virginia or Pennsylvania to find housing. Traffic is a nightmare as commuters have to drive through Frederick County to get to work and back home at night.
• No Economic Development: Because of all the smart growth policies in Fredrick County (and other parts of Maryland) many of the new jobs are going elsewhere. And in the midst of the largest housing boom in our nation’s history, housing permits in the region actually decreased.

These are just a few of the negative impacts shared by the two guest speakers. Please click here for a complete copy of their presentation.

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Triangle Community Coalition www.TRICC.org