Why is "growth" good? I'd like fewer people in the area

[Anonymous]

I live in Bethesda and work in DC. I don't understand why we need ever greater density and more homes and more companies to come to the area. The congestion is terrible and the strain on schools and public services is annoying.

Personally, I would be happier if we stayed flat or, better yet, some people moved away!

[Anonymous]

I work in Bethesda, live in DC. DW works downtown.

We often don't use our car at all during the week and aside from a$$hole aggressive drivers (almost all of whom are from MD) cutting through our neighborhood could care less about the congestion and the growth has improved our property values while giving us many more things we can easily reach from where we live.

But we'd be miserable too if we needed to drive everywhere but we made different choices.

[Anonymous]

So you got your's, screw everyone else?

[Anonymous]

OP, where did you grow up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you got your's, screw everyone else?

Don't know which post you are responding to but the additional growth means more, not fewer, people can enjoy the various opportunities this region offers. If the growth is done correctly (mixed use neighborhoods anchored by high quality transit) it doesn't necessarily make traffic worse.

[Anonymous]

Lol. Well lead the way OP! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

[Anonymous]

It's like rats coming out of woodwork. Too darn many people as compared to the 1990s.. just 30 years ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bethesda and work in DC. I don't understand why we need ever greater density and more homes and more companies to come to the area. The congestion is terrible and the strain on schools and public services is annoying.

Personally, I would be happier if we stayed flat or, better yet, some people moved away!

What's your idea? A campaign to persuade people to move away? "Montgomery County is terrible! Don't move here! Bethesda is a horrible place to live!"

Actually there are some posters on DCUM who seem to be working on that campaign.

[Anonymous]

Growth is coming, because the US population is growing, while many areas of the country are in terminal decline. This region is relatively wealthy/dynamic.

So the only question is whether we have smart growth - investing in public transport, cycling infrastructure, preserving green space etc - or chaotic growth- with more congestion, overcrowding etc.

[Anonymous]

OP, I can recommend lots of cities that are emptier than they were designed for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bethesda and work in DC. I don't understand why we need ever greater density and more homes and more companies to come to the area. The congestion is terrible and the strain on schools and public services is annoying.

Personally, I would be happier if we stayed flat or, better yet, some people moved away!

Specieis in general, barring an external threat, tend to grow in population. Humans in particular, once we moved away from a hunter-gatherer society to a barter=> cash society, locate to places where one can earn money to purchase things like food. The DC Capital Region is a place where many companies have located because of its proximity to the heart of the federal government, the clean Potomac drinking water and easy access to other metropolitan areas as well as mountains, bay and beach. In order to accommodate the demand for humans to live in this area, we have two choices: either keep digging up farmland and build car-based cul de sac developments, or increase density in areas that already have infrastructure and provide transportation choices.

Does that begin to answer your question in a simplistic manner?

[Anonymous]

I’m with you OP.

I like this area the way it is. We don’t need more development, especially when it comes with less green space.

I think that’s the issue for many people. More development, but not better facilities (parks, libraries).

Why does the County want to pave over every speck of green space and cover it with high density housing? People need trees and parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you OP.

I like this area the way it is. We don’t need more development, especially when it comes with less green space.

I think that’s the issue for many people. More development, but not better facilities (parks, libraries).

Why does the County want to pave over every speck of green space and cover it with high density housing? People need trees and parks.

That is why there needs to be more density where areas are already developed, to save the green space that everyone cherishes. Not everyone needs to live in a single family home. The most dense cities in the world barely have any. It is a very wasteful use of land.

[Anonymous]

It's so much simpler than any of you have stated.

Municipalities want growth because it means more taxpayers - both corporate and individual. It's all about revenue.

[Anonymous]

WVa is calling you OP.