Reply to If MoCo need housing, why keep agricultural reserve?

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Reply to "If MoCo need housing, why keep agricultural reserve?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There’s so much news about the need for housing in MoCo. There are many bills being circulated to increase the number of developments/houses in areas already at capacity. But almost a third of the county is an agricultural reserve with significant restrictions on building/development. [b]Why?[/b] Could we remove that designation and open it up to more housing and increase the supply- thus creating much needed affordable housing? [/quote]

To answer the bolded:

MoCo, like all other jurisdictions, is balancing a number of different public policies- housing, economic development, environmental sustainability, resident quality of life, etc.  Increasing density around already populated areas strikes a balance of enhancing economic development, housing availability, and environmental sustainability.

The Ag reserve exists to: promote clean air and water quality, maintain substantial impervious surfaces to address storm water management, provides wildlife habitats, enables local food production, provide green space for outdoor recreational pursuits of residents, among other things.

Creating housing density in the Ag Reserve would be a significantly higher burden on public infrastructure.  (There is little to no public sewer there, or public transportation.)  It would increase reliance on cars, reduce greenspace, and not provide housing where people need it.
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