quote:

Originally posted by merry:
Well actually, George, it is a product of our being a free, democratic society that we have zoning laws. We elect (freely) representatives who chose to protect the citizenry (who may or may not own property but do live and directly or indirectly pay taxes) from locating a jet fuel dump in our back yards. OOOH, but that already happened in Malta. You know the last time I was at a town meeting a young woman was asking permission to build a duplex (yes, ONE duplex) on a piece of property adjacent to an existing housing development. The town fathers and mothers debated the merits of putting a duplex on the last remaining lot in an area zoned previouly for and now built up with McMansions (my phrase, not theirs). Out of respect for the old vision for that neighborhood, the mothers and fathers denied her the variance and instead granted permission for her to build a single family home. She acquiesced, but it was clear that her home would have been far more affordable with an income-producing unit attached. Oh, well, at least the McMansions were protected. Apparently, the residents on Mayapple aren't McMansiony enough to warrent protection from having five story appartment buildings next to their back porches. But then this IS a free country (not free enough of Mexicans for your taste admittedly) and the developer did have the right to what ever he wanted on his land. Oh, but I'm confused, how did that apply to that young woman who sought permission to build one (yes, ONE) duplex.