In Raleigh, the forces that want to use government to dictate lifestyles never give up. At the December 4th standing room only public hearing, the Mayor’s anti-teardown proposal was unanimously criticized. That should have been the end of it. The public wants the city to protect its property rights not use city regulations to destroy its property values.
But the Councilman Crowder believes it is his duty to a prevent property owner inside the Beltline from demolishing a small older home and building a larger new one. Crowder and his followers think this ruins “the character of the neighborhood.” Someone should tell this crowd that the character of the neighborhood is in the eye of the beholder. Some people think that building modern homes in older areas is improving the neighborhood.
The N&O reports on the new proposals to restrict property rights here, including forcing property owners to take their plans to the Planning Commission for approval. Just what we need more politics. There was a time when the only legitimate role for government regulation of property was to prevent one neighbor from using his property in a way that directly harms his neighbors. Now your politically connected neighbors can use government to steal the value of your property. Here is the conclusion to my testimony at the public hearing on December 4th.
Free societies usually punish, not reward, theft, but, in this case, we have an example of legalized theft. How would a free society solve this problem? First, those residents who want to maintain the so-called ?character of the community? could ask their neighbors to voluntarily restrict their redevelopment rights by signing restrictive covenants. If residents don?t agree, then they could buy the redevelopment rights from their neighbors. If residents still don?t agree, then their property rights should be respected. Stealing property through a zoning ordinance is not the solution.
