Happy New Year 2009

It looks like this is going to be another banner year - 2009! Such wonderful things have happened in 2008 that it will be hard for 2009 to keep up. Let's have a look at some of the things that have happened:

• City park plans were finalized and we got bids. 2009 will have to see the final tweaking of those plans and beginning of construction (no, nothings EVER as easy as you might think...)
• Hurricane Ike tested our City on every level. Some people were devastated while others were spared the worst effects of the storm. We learned a lot from Ike and move forward with plans to improve our systems and community in an effort to respond better in the future.
• We passed a new over-arching zoning ordinance. This feels like a personal victory for me, but it was completed as an effort that reflects the work and contributions of the entire City staff and officials.
• We built 70 new buildings in the City. Most of these were homes in new subdivisions. This represents an increase of about 75% over 2007. The economic slow down has certainly affected us, but not as much as in other, even nearby, communities.
• Two new Planning and Zoning members were added to our team - Mr. Mark Ables and Mr. Roger King. These welcome additions to the Commission will help us reviewing and approving plans. It will be great to be able to tap into their expertise and enthusiasm.
• Snow! It snowed here in southeast Texas for the first time in several years. While this has little to do with community planning, it was certainly remarkable and fun!

So looking forward to 2009, there are a number of things that are outstanding that need to be addressed. These include revisions to the subdivision ordinance, access management ordinances, Eagle Drive improvements, sewer, water, and other infrastructure improvements, and many other activities and goals that are in the works. It's an exciting time to be here in Mont Belvieu, and I am grateful and humbled to be a part of it.

The Park! (Round 2)

This is Central Park in New York. I would like to point out a couple of things:

1. Notice how this area of green is completely surrounded by buildings that are very large. It is almost as though a portion of the city were cut away, peeled back, to reveal the natural environment. This is not the case - the park was there first. I am not going to go into the history of the park, but suffice it to say that there was a great deal of planning and foresight that took place prior to the development of the park and surrounding areas.

2. Notice the relative lack of green space elsewhere. This is the front yard and backyard for many millions of people who live in New York. Whether it was designed to function in this way or not, it has evolved in a way that is personal and real for the people of New York. It's their park. They own it in a way that is just as meaningful as those who have their own little suburban lots.

3. Notice also that there is a variety of uses - forests, trails, lakes/ponds, meadows, fields, museums, restaurants, etc. This is a quality place to be - each detail of your experience has been carefully tailored to provide maximum enjoyment. Thus people can enjoy the park on many levels - casual strolling, relaxing for an afternoon, ball games, remote control boating, etc.

We got our bids back for our park here in Mont Belvieu. They were very high - probably too high to put in place as they are currently formulated. We were very surprised to see how high they were and we will have to go back to the drawing board. But as we do so, I want to keep in mind the lessons that can be learned from successful parks like Central Park. The main focus should be toward quality over quantity. We may be able to get a lot from our park if we creatively edit some of the elements that are currently in the park, allowing for further growth in the future. It was discouraging to see the numbers come in as high as they were.

Stay tuned. More information to come.

Dream City...

We all (I think) have a dream or vision of what our community could and should be.

When I was in college, I worked on a project that related to planning. The way our cities evolve over time is a beautiful, organic (if chaotic) process of trial and error. Even planning, as noble a profession as it is, and as necessary for the development of the community, has limitations. We cannot formulate a series of iron-clad laws and regulations that will force people into doing the will of the planner. We are ultimately responsible to the elected officials of the community, who in turn are responsible to their constituents. The planner acts as the fulcrum or pivot, balancing the needs and goals of the community against what has been gleaned from other experiences in other places. It's an interesting process, with almost no real parameters and where outcomes are always in a state of flux.

But there are certain elements of a strong community that are ubiquitous. Things such as provision of services, transportation, shopping, employment and education opportunities, and other basic infrastructure elements establish the foundation, to which are added the equally important but often overlooked things like parks, recreation, library services, arts and cultural opportunities, and community celebrations and festivals. All of these things are vital to the success of any community. These things provide opportunities for growth - goals can be made which will direct development of plans, objectives, and steps to move forward with achieving the goals.

So I would like to know specific elements of YOUR dream city or community. Where have you been that you really loved? What was it about the place that made it memorable? How can we generate that same kind of thing here in Mont Belvieu?

Please let me know what you think!

Dream City...

The Park!

It's going to happen!

The Mont Belvieu City Park is one step closer to reality today. Yesterday afternoon we met with many of the contractors who wish to help build the park. It was as packed as I have ever seen the council chambers (I wonder why we don't get that kind of turn out for council meetings?!?).

As always with a project of this size there will be questions that are outstanding and need resolution. The bids are due in a couple of weeks and we will need to amend the bid in the mean time as these questions get resolved. The contractors will be called on to give suggestions about how to best proceed with the project, utilizing their expertise and experience in these matters.

But another milestone has been achieved. It's a fun and exciting time to be in the City! Stay tuned for more!

The Road Less Travelled

Ok, so this is a map I generated (or at least marked up) showing potential locations for trails within the City and surrounding areas. The red shaded areas are schools, parks, City Hall, etc. Pink lines are pipelines, green are main streets, and blue areas are water drainages or canals.

The point of showing this is to demonstrate that there exists within the City an extensive network of easements that may be used for non-automobile traffic. In particular, pipelines (and let's be honest, all pipelines lead to Mont Belvieu) :-) and drainage easements link nearly the entire City. It's a ready made solution to the dependence on the car and the health problems associate with a sedentary lifestyle... People can walk or bike almost everywhere in the City that they would want to go... Once we get the trails in place.

At tonight's Planning and Zoning meeting, we discussed various trail systems that are being installed in areas around the country. There was a positive response from the commission members regarding the implementation of a real trails plan and requirement for development. That will be a part of the next subdivision ordinance revision, which is underway right now...

If you have any comments, please, now is the time!

Storms in the morning...

Sure, I like to sleep.

But why is it that at 2 AM the thunderstorms seem to decide that's the time to thunder around?

I am not sure. I am a light sleeper, so these ones wake me up. It has been interesting... The rain, the wind, the light and sound show...

One thing I don't worry about is my house flooding. Thanks, Dan (Williams, our City Engineer).

If I fall asleep here at my desk - now you'll know why!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

The American Way

Every four years in the United States we are called upon to exercise one of our most precious rights - the right to vote. It is a beautiful time, early in the month remembering Veterans and the expressions of gratitude for another prosperous and peaceful year. It is wonderful to think of the possibilites, the hopes, the dreams, and the opportunity.

Last night was a historic election. Whether you like the outcome or not, if you participated, you were a part of history. It will be something your grandchildren will ask you about.

I am proud to be an American. Here's to 200 more such elections!

What do we want in a City?

I have written about Las Vegas before. This time, I wanted to write about something I read in Planning Magazine - a professional periodical for city planners. In November's issue, there's an article called "A Surprisingly Urban Place" highlighting some of the history of Las Vegas and where it is at currently. Much of the article is about how the architecture of the Strip has evolved over time and it's affect on cities all over the world. What I found particularly interesting appears in the last two paragraphs:

Las Vegas shows us a great deal about what people want from cities and what will induce them to visit. They want grandeur and excitement and novelty and stimulation.

They want to come to a city for what they cannot get on the Internet. They want visual splendor and they want surprise. And they want to see other people and mill about with them and even get a sense of community. That's not a bad set of things to want. As we try to figure out how to build cities that have the sustaining and nurturing qualities that many of our cities undeniably lack, we must admit that we can still, even today, learn from Las Vegas.

I could not agree more. It's important for each of us to find ways to make our community more interesting. These places are cool because there are people there. People are attracted there because they look cool. And they stay there and come back there because there are things that they like to do available. We need to encourage the businesses in our community to consider these things as they develop, helping establish areas that people like to come and be.

Get Out the Vote

I don't care who you vote for. But get out and vote! Be a part of history! This is a great time for America and Americans! Please, please go out and vote!

Big Oil Business...

I recently read an article about Nigerian oil fields. I was interested in the story for a couple of reasons. First, I know a person who works here but frequently has to travel there for business in the oil industry. He reports that Nigeria is a very challenged place. There is no good public infrastructure and he must travel with armed security wherever he goes.

Secondly, there is the aspect of the humanity in the story. Nigeria is rife with corruption and tribal factions who don't see eye to eye. Extracting oil may be an underground operation, but the problems it has caused for the people there and the environment in which they live are very plain to see. People who are frustrated or dissatisfied with the corruption are often powerless to resist. Those who gain power or privilege are usually loath to relinquish that power. And those who are repressed must seek avenues to get their needs met.

Finally, there are some interesting parallels with what's going on in Nigeria to what is going on here in Mont Belvieu. We have none of the corruption problems, and we have had an EPA in place for decades now. But the tax dollars that infuse our community flow from the oil industry. It's very nice, actually, to have these resources. After all, they pay my salary in part :-) But on the other hand, our entire region is dependent on one industry for it's tax revenues which is not healthy. It makes us less resilient when periodic economic upheavals strike. As far as the City goes, we'll be OK - the value of property in our City is not going down. But what of the people who work there? And all the supporting industries? In Nigeria, everything depends on oil, leading to several of the people quoted in the article to say that they wish they had never found oil there...

Makes me wonder...

The Park

We are in the finishing-up stages of the design of the new City park. I think that you'll really like it. The City has invested a lot of time and thought into the design of the Park, and it will be something we can all be proud of. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the various aspects of the park's design, I will give you a quick run-down:

• 80 acres total property area
• 70 acres of park space
• 10 acres of commercial land in the front of the park (along Eagle Drive)
• Street light at Eagle Drive (entrance to the Park - probably won't be installed until Eagle Drive improvements are completed or finalized)
• 10 play areas with playground equipment (slides, swings, etc) including 2 play areas in the ball fields section of the park
• A water play area (splash pad type area with water features and interactive fountains)
• A skate park
• An outdoor amphitheater
• A lake with adjacent boardwalk and overlook, islands, and wildlife habitats
• A full sized (350' outfield fence) baseball field
• 5 Little-League sized baseball fields
• 3 softball fields
• 3 multi-use (soccer or football) fields
• Miles of trails (concrete, gravel, and natural trail surfaces)
• Concessions area with associated restroom facilities
• Large public pavillion for public and private gatherings with associated restroom facilities and storage/concessions area
• Ample parking for all events
• And the big one - fireworks discharge area! Bring your lawn chairs for the displays that will start from the park!
  

The designers have worked with City staff and officials to ensure that this park will be a jewel for our City. It will meet the needs of our citizens for years to come and will be a source of pride for our whole area. If you have any questions about the plans or would like to inspect them yourself, please stop by my office and I would be happy to go over them with you and explain anything you would like!

Insert Clever Title Here...

When writing these blog entries, I sometimes think of the kind of person who would read my blog. Are you like these folks: studying with rapt attention the innermost thoughts and intents of my brain? Or are you simply casually perusing the net looking for something you probably won't find on this blog anyway? And how long does it take for you to decide this? Again, according to my cool little visit counter, most of ya'll spend about a nano-second here before moving on. I think that the counter may be faulty, but I wonder what it is about some blogs that pull people in to read them... The intent of this blog is not to be an exhaustive resource for people who want information about the community, it's tax rates, borders, etc. Come on into my office, email me, or call me and I can get you that information. The intent of thie blog is to help foster and inform a discussion about issues facing our community. I admit that recently I have been fairly reactionary - Ike has occupied a lot of my time. But as we settle back in, I would like to see more of the appropriate discussion that people may have.

I know also that the internet is not necessarily the best way to contact people to solicit input - you have to have a computer and internet access (which I don't even have at home!) in order to even begin to find your way here. But I know that many of you do have computers out there. I also know that you have ideas about what's going on in our community. I would like to hear them. I have received many great ideas and suggestions. Please keep them coming! Come on by, comment here, or however you would like to communicate - please do! I welcome your ideas!

National Financial Crisis and Impact on Mont Belvieu

Those of you who read this and are not from the area (and even some of you who are in the area) may be wondering about the financial health of the City. While I am certainly not the financial guy around here (that's John Iles, and he does a fine job of it) I have come to understand some of the workings of the City and its finances. I find it very interesting, especially in light of some of the recent news out of Wall Street.

Let me assure any of you who may be concerned - our City is doing just fine. Without getting specific, our City has taken appropriate steps to provide continued services long term while still achieving goals. Mr. Easum and Mr. Iles are very conservative in their efforts to ensure that this stays the case.

One of the benefits of being tied to the petro-chemical industry as we are is that we are able to weather periodic turns in the economy differently than the rest of the world. Our unique geologic and geographic position allows us a certain amount of comfort: because we are located where we are the value of the property near us will not change drastically. You can't move underground storage tanks. So short-term, we should be OK.

Long-term, though, we need to start thinking about diversifying our economic base. When such a large percentage of our economy comes from one industry, it is always a little precarious. What if no one bought natural gas anymore? What if it all dried up? What if a hurricane or tornado damaged it beyond repair? God forbid any of these things happen. But contingencies ought to be in place. And diversification of our economy is something we should consider.

Part of attracting people to an area is the diversity of economic opportunity that exists. We are in a position to do great things with our City that will help foster the right economic environment to pull in that opportunity. Education, job training, and other general facilities and infrastructure improvements are all things that companies will look for in locating their business here. We actually have a relatively low tax rate compared with other cities around Texas. That helps. We have a wide variety of workers and good infrastructure in place as well. That all helps, also. The one area we seem to be lacking in is the education level and opportunities. People who are better educated not only earn more money, but they are better able to weather the periodic convulsions that shake our economy in general.

More on this later.

Ike and the Aftermath (I love the word "aftermath")

Two posts ago I was all worried about what Gustav was going to do to my house. Those were the days of innocence prior to Ike. Ike really opened a lot of eyes here in the community. Some of the reflections that I have:

1. Hats off again to the first responders in our community. They are truly an asset to the community - their professionalism and dedication to duty reflects well on our community. They have risen to the challenge and done wonderfully well. It is a privilege to be associated with people of this caliber.

2. Community efforts to assist those in need have been particularly heartening to watch. Whether it was my neighbors coming over late Thursday night to help me board up my windows, the meals provided for emergency personnel and staff, the volunteers handing out ice, water, and MREs out at the school, or neighbors helping to clean up yards, roads, lots, and homes - this is truly a magnificent place to live. With all that is rotten and corrupt and broken in this world, there is a strength to America and it is the neighbors reaching out to help each other in times of need with no thought of recompense.

3. We have been under a mandatory evacuation order from the County. Chambers County is considered a coastal county, surrounding Trinity Bay - the north east arm of Galveston Bay - and damage was expected to be (and ended up being) extensive. The main reason to issue an evacuation order is to prevent loss of life and limb to those folks in the evacuation area. Coupled to that is the real concern for those first responders who would be required to assist those foolish enough to stay in dangerous areas. Also of concern is the ability of the City or County to provide regular services to those in need - water, sewer, etc, services may be disrupted - and emergency personnel may not be able to even get around. The regular distribution services are vulnerable, including food, electricity, gas, and other utilities. Thus, it behooves people to get someplace safe or expect major inconveniences and disruptions to their regular routine. For the most part, people have been exceptionally patient and understanding as we get our services back on line. Our City personnel have been working incessantly to bring everything back to order and provide that level of comfort and convenience that we have come to expect here in our community.

4. There are significant lessons that were learned about the weaknesses and strengths that exist in our emergency plan. For the most part, our City weathered the storm in exceptional fashion, with some physical concerns with our facilities here at the City Hall which we are currently in the process of correcting. Those things will take time to rectify, but when they get fixed we will be in a better position than we were before the storm.

I would like to once again thank those who have worked so tirelessly for the benefit of our community. Their efforts have ensured that our people may have been inconvenienced by the storm but were never in danger of being left alone. And that's what living in a community like this is all about.

Why I do what I do...

I am sure that you wonder why someone would ever desire to become a City Planner in the first place? I mean, what motivates a City Planner? Doctors save lives, engineers build dams, and writers and artists inspire and motivate. So what's in it for a planner?

Well, other than the obvious paycheck (for which I am grateful) there is a dignity to touching the future in the way I do. With the exercise of my ability and authority, I am able to affect the property of everyone in the City. I draw lines on a map and roads appear. I designate areas of the City and stores, offices, and houses appear. I am not alone - everything I do is in concert with many, many people, and ultimately my authority comes from the people I serve via the City Council and ordinance.

But there is something sublime in being able to touch the community in the way I can. It is humbling. Robert Moses ruined many areas of New York, which is still trying to recover. On the other hand, there are many, many unsung public servants who struggle every day to do the best they can for their communities so that they can help establish the greatest towns the world has ever known.

In my mind, it all boils down to service. I was given the opportunity to pursue a higher paying vocation - it would still have been planning, but it would have been working with a developer rather than a municipality. But after evaluating my own personal priorities, I realized that there was greater potential to be found in seeking not for the dollar but for the leadership potential that exists through the more altruistic pursuit of better communities.

The Big One...

This is a radar/satellite image of Gustav immediately prior to landfall in Louisiana.

While Gustav didn't do much damage here in South East Texas, it was pretty nervous there for a little while. The reason for being prepared for the worst is that we don't know with any certainty how a storm is going to affect our community. And while we seemed to have missed most of the show this time, there always exists the potential for additional storms. Next year, next month, next week - sometime the big one will hit here.

My father echoed the thing I had always wondered about prior to moving here. He wondered why people would live here when there is the potential for devastating storms... I patiently explained that there is actually very little chance of a large storm at any given point in any given year. maybe once out of every four years. So for three years, 364 days and 18 hours, there are no problems. Then there are six hours of sheer terror, followed by a couple of weeks of clean-up. We live in a paradise. It is a truly beautiful place to live. I don't want to move. Besides, it was 31 degrees in Rexburg last night, and I would rather take the warm beautiful tropical weather than live in Iceburg...

Why live in cities, anyway?

You might as well ask why we have brain cells that are different from heart cells that are different from colon cells that are, well, you get the idea.

People living together for mutual benefit and security - that is the ultimate purpose of a City. Why else would we go through all the rest of the stuff that comes along with living so close to someone you can't stand?!? :-)

But living in this proximity has inherent difficulties. Some of these range from minor inconveniences to the outright removal of inalienable rights. City governance has grown up in response to grievances by people whose rights have been infringed.

So what do you do in the case of two conflicting property interests? Whose rights are more important? How does a city make the Solomon-like decision to grant someone's property rights at the diminution of someone else's? There's no way to cut this proverbial baby - either action encroaches and offends someone, one who usually has a valid legal claim on recourse.

This is something I have been struggling with for the last few days. I don't know the answer. Ultimately, it is not left to me to make the decision - that's in the hands of appointed and elected officials. But these officials will (hopefully) listen to my professional opinion. So I better get it right.

You're going to hear a lot more of this...

NPR has (just this morning) highlighted a concern that I have noted before. More than once. Here's a link to their report:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93842128

Now, maybe it seems superfluous to say, but our current model of housing doesn't work. We build homes in ever increasing numbers at distances that are also increasing from our places of business and shopping and school and everything. The only thing that exists out where we are is us.

This presents a burden on infrastructure in our cities, pushing service demands further and further away from where they can most efficiently be handled. Roads, water and sewer, drainage, even garbage pick up services are all being stretched to the limit. As property values decrease, the burden on these services becomes greater. It is further exacerbated by rising energy costs.

So what's the answer? I propose that one solution may be a return to the "nuclear city" - a city which looks a lot like the old diagram of the atom. Remember that from high school physics? It turns out that it is wrong, but the diagram is intriguing. Imagine a city that has a central core surrounded by a gradually decreasing density of residences and services...

Instead of the current "plum pudding" model, with it's various and varied random places of density and services, with an overall low density demand taxing the services and infrastructure, the nuclear model would make logical sense. We could expand such a model to it's logical limits (say around 30,000 people) and then move on to the next space. This kind of model has been tried before, with varied success.

The main problem with this way of thinking is just that - thinking. It's a psychological exercise to imagine such a world - where one piece of land is not inherently more valuable than others. But there have always been areas which are more desirable - better access to water, farming, services, shopping, shipping, or salt domes, for example. In order for this kind of thing to work, we would have to abandon these kinds of land valuations and move to a more egalitarian ideal.

I know, it's the ideal again. But hey, if no one is dreaming, how will innovation ever take place?

WHY NOT?

Raindrops keep falling on my head...

I know that there are several of you who read this blog who are not in Southeast Texas. Since I am from Utah, I am amazed consistently by the rain here. Last night I barely fell asleep when I woke to the sound of rain. Pounding rain. Incessant, thunderous buckets dumping on my roof. In the space of an hour, we had 2 inches of rain. Not to mention the thunder and lightning - bright enough and constant enough to read a newspaper by, provided you could focus while jumping every 3 seconds from the huge rolls of thunder...

All of this is really quite lovely. So different from what I experienced growing up.

I only wish it would let me sleep.

All of this leads me to another point: the City Engineer, Dan Williams, has been with the City for about 3 years or so. He reviewed the drainage for many of the newer subdivisions in the City, including the one I live in. I am not exagerating when I say that I am able to sleep better at night knowing that he reviewed the drainage scheme and calculations for my home. I know that come high water, I will be dry and secure in my home.

So thanks, Dan. And keep up the good work!

City Hall

So, I work at City Hall.

I am sure that's a real shocker (where else would they put me?!?). I work on the second floor and my window overlooks the parking lot and therefor the main entrance to City Hall. I have my computer monitors situated such that I can see people coming and going.

Today is the first day of school registration. People in the Barber's Hill ISD must prove they are residents in the school district boundaries in order to register their children for school. So in order to prove that they live here, they come to get copies of their water statements from the City. Connie, the all around great receptionist/billing specialist/scheduler/whatever, is fabulous at helping out with these things. She even helped me out earlier (I didn't have to come to the window, though).

I impressed with who is driving up. People in big trucks. People in small trucks. People with new, shiny vehicles. People with vehicles that have no business being on the road. People with kids, people without. Typical soccer moms in minivans. Tough looking men with big mustaches and bellies and diesels I can hear rumbling from here. People in flip-flops. People in boots. People in shorts (so far I am the only one I have seen in a tie - I am presenting tonight at the Council meeting, and although I don't think it would matter very much if I didn't wear a tie, there's just some things I can't avoid). People in tank tops, tee-shirts, coveralls, institutional-looking polo shirts, and one guy in bib overalls. Fat people. Skinny people. Tall people. Short people. Young people. Old people. People with red hair. People with blond hair with some dyed pink. People with drinks or cigarettes or papers or kids or keys in their hands. All walking by my window like a parade of humanity.

And it's humbling to be the planner for these wonderful, beautiful people. How am I supposed to do what's best for all of them? How can I possibly put forth ideas that will be meaningful for them?

I suppose I could ask...

Hurricanes and Preparedness

So, I know this was not a "real" hurricane.

Tropical Storm Edouard came on land about 30 miles west of us. It was predicted to be worse than it was, but still wasn't expected to be too bad. We weathered the storm at home. Couple of thoughts about this experience, though:

1. Our neighbors made sure that we were all ready for what could have happened. They gave us advice on how to store water and make sure we had enough to drink and eat for the days ahead. There is always a potential for the power to go out, so we made plans to be without water. It's good to know that people care about each other and are there to help.
2. We have been preparing (as a family) for a few months. Every time we went to the store we picked up some items that we could use in case of a hurricane. We have 60 gallons of water in our garage. We have a 72 hour kit ready to go. We still need to get our documents, pictures, etc. together. But we are fully prepared for a "shelter in place" storm. In contrast to that are the procrastinators. The bread shelves were empty, as were the shelves for bottled water. It was a little strange to see store shelves completely empty. It also made me grateful for the preparations we had made - we weren't scrambling. And imagine if the water had gone out and we weren't able to get any drinking water...
3. The City has an emergency plan, in coordination with the County, State, and Federal governments. It is a cool thing to see first hand the machine kick into gear. This is being considered a good dry run (although it was a wet day). There is an unspeakable peace of mind that comes from being in a community that has planned how to respond in an emergency.

Of course, I am a part of the emergency response team. I am not sure what particular skills I bring to the table, but I am ready and willing to participate in any and every way possible. It's good to be surrounded by professionals who know what and how to do in the case of a real crisis.

Hurricanes and other natural disasters are not the only things that we need to be concerned about here in Mont Belvieu. We are located near many chemical plants, refineries, and gas and oil storage facilities that may pose a threat. As we consider all the ways that accidents can (and have) happened, it is good to be prepared. Good preparation makes the difference between a crisis and an inconvenience.

The Carbon Market and Capitalism

According to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family...

Carbon markets are designed to undermine this right by making it a commodity. By putting an economic value on a stable environment and the release into the atmosphere of harmful greenhouse gasses, we are essentially putting a dollar figure on a basic human right. What's next? The right to free speech? Education? Life?

I just got out of a conference where it was presented that people could take part in the carbon markets through reforestation efforts. I think reforestation efforts are great. When I asked about the moral implications of the carbon market, however, I got the pat answer - It's better than nothing. And hey, money for growing trees!

Meanwhile, the ability of people all over the world is being infringed. Why don't people attack the root of the problem instead hacking at the branches? The heads of the hydra are being lopped off but no cauterization is taking place.

It's the disenfranchised people of the world who will have to bear the burden. Climate change will most greatly affect those who are least well-equipped to handle it. If my house becomes flooded, I move. If my entire country becomes flooded (Bangladesh), where do I go?

I agree that something has to be done. But putting all of the eggs in the carbon market basket is inherently dangerous. The many heads of the hydra must be eliminated systematically and completely. Further, new steps must be taken in place of the out-moded methods we have hitherto relied on. Walkable communities, housing choice, wind and solar energy harvesting, nuclear power, it all must be considered in order for eventual victory to be achieved.

The Beauty of Open Spaces

I am from the mountain west. Thus, being in this area leaves me without the environment that I am accustomed to. The high mountain desert landscape is striking, clean, pure, and picturesque. It is also lethal.

In the words of Edward Abbey:

To those that see our land in that manner, the best reply is, yes, you are right, it is a dangerous and terrible place. Enter at your own risk. Carry water. Avoid the noon day sun. Try to ignore the vultures. Pray frequently.

I think this applies to open spaces everywhere.

Ignore them at your own risk.

Places to remember

Unless you have lived under a rock for the last 50 years, you know who these guys are. The British Invasion in the 60s fomented an entirely different attitude about life and how we treat each other and the world around us. One of the songs I find particularly interesting is In My Life from the Rubber Soul album. It starts out like this:

There are places I'll remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever, not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All this places have their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life, I've loved them all

Is it possible to love a place? What is it about that place that makes it so meaningful? Certainly the people you were with make a place important, the activities, the times we have can never be replaced. But there is a power associated with a particular place that helps shape us. I have mentioned before that people are affected by the houses they never enter, the streets they see but never travel, the fields and forests that remain full of intrigue and mystery.

Here in Mont Belvieu we have the chance to do it right. I hope we take advantage of this chance. I hope I am able to help.

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life, I love you more

In my life-- I love you more

PS - I really love the Volkswagen Bug in the picture above. If anyone has one that they would like to donate to the "Get Bill to Work in Style" cause, I'd appreciate it. :-)

City Council Meeting Last Night

Last night we had a fabulous meeting here at City Hall. Tempers flared, accusations were made, aspersions were cast, and there was a general melee of words and ideas that permeated the evening. Ah, what passion and fervor. This is why I got into the profession anyway.

Where else can you find such high drama? Where else can someone come and help direct policy that immediately affects people's lives? Where else do you find neighbors and friends come together to help change the way things are done? Only on the local level. It is not only impressive but fun. I truly love it.

I encourage you all to get involved. Come and tell us how you feel. It is only as strong as those who are willing to participate can make it. We need you!

Political Polarization of Our Communities

Ok, so I admit it. I am a NPR listener. I have been listening for years, and I find that the things they talk about are interesting. Yes, I know that there is a definite slant, but at least they aren't as shrill as Rush or Hannity. I can't stand those guys.

I heard this story talked about today (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92292747). I wonder what you think.

The premise is that communities have a basic appeal to people of a certain demographic profile. Liberal democrats will be attracted to certain communities, while conservative republicans will be attracted to others. Is this true in your experience? If so, why do you think this is? I have been told that until very recently this area was strongly Democrat-leaning. Now it is very much Republican. I wonder what fomented the change...

I believe that this kind of separation is not healthy. People need to test their ideas in the crucible of opposition in order to purify and strengthen them. Without conversation about different issues with people with different ideas, what chance is there for growth?

Tomorrow, as we celebrate the independence of the greatest country on earth, I hope we can all pause for just a moment to consider what it is we are all about here and what we enjoy as a birthright:

• we live in a country where a person may be elected president who does not come from a monied elite class, but from a single-parent home
• we live in a country where people can choose for themselves their destiny
• we live in a country where God is mentioned in our pledge of allegiance, acknowledging the Source from which our liberties sprang
• we live in a country where people are free NOT to salute the flag if they wish
• we live in a country where people can believe in God and worship Him according to the dictates of their own consciences
• we live in a country where these ideas and ideals have been tested time and again and have withstood the pressures
• we live in a country where people are willing to go to foreign countries in defense of our ideals and the promotion of an improved and freer way of life
• we live in a country where people can pretty much live the way they want, where laws are enacted to preserve that quality of life, and where we are governed by our peers
• we live in a country where fences are erected not to keep people IN but to regulate the mass of people who would like to come here
• we live in a country where we have a peaceful transfer of power every four to eight years
• we live in a country where our political ideals do not separate us but bring us together in healthy debate (remember, we are not as divided as our politics may seem)
• we live in a country where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (not capital) are our founding principles
• we live in a country where the family is the basic unit of society, where women are the repository of virtue and men are courageous and valiant, and where children are cherished and nurtured
• we live in a country where these things are under attack, but we struggle on against evils that would overthrow our freedoms, liberties, and ideals

There is no better place to be. Surely we are imperfect, but we laugh at ourselves and move on. And we will persevere and overcome. As Mr. Reagan so eloquently state, we are the shining light on the hill, the beacon of light in a dark world.

I am grateful and proud to be an American.

Zoning and Subdivision in the Garden

So, here we are again. Blogging is surely cathartic. I know that most of the people who glance at this site are not particularly interested in what another local community bureaucrat has to say. But it is nice for me to have a place to expunge my bile and vitriol. And at the same time, I am able to share some good things, too. All of which is good for me.

Our City has been revamping our Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances. This has been an interesting experience for me because I have learned a lot about how this process works. There is not any really clear way to proceed with this kind of thing. We have had ordinances on our books, of course, but there were some gaping holes in them. Sometimes I feel like the Dutch boy with his thumb in the dike. In order for the dike to get fixed, I have to remove my thumb and hope it's low tide...

It's also interesting working with elected officials and City staff on concerns that we have. In doing this, there is a real potential to reach into the pockets of each land owner in the City and affect greatly how much their property is worth. That is something I take very seriously, and since I live here too, it affects me as well. I guess we can only ever do our best and keep plugging away.

On a personal note, I believe that we have a responsibility to care for each other. The function of government is to promote the common good and welfare, guarantee morals and standards of the community, and serve the interests of each individual who lives in our area. In particular, we have the responsibility to seek out those whose voices have become diminished for whatever reason and bring them to light.

Quick Post

I have spoken about this before, in earlier posts. Now it looks like CNN has caught up to my prognostication. Check out this article:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/16/suburb.city/index.html

I am not sure why this is in the Technology section...

The crux of the article is that the suburbs are becoming rapidly out-moded. But as inner-city areas become more attractive and desirable, gentrification ensues driving up prices and driving out lower-income folks. Thus, those who are least able to commute long distances are the ones who are being forced to. The suburbs were designed around the automobile - mass transit doesn't work well out there because it is expensive to drive big buses along residential streets. But the people who need the mass transit are the ones who are being displaced by the gentrification.

My next prognostication: decreased service levels to the suburbs as cities focus on inner-city redevelopment - less money to maintain decaying and out-moded infrastructure in the outlying, money-sucking suburbs, thus placing a dis-proportional burden (again) on those least able to absorb it.

Remember, you read it here first!

The Sword of Damocles

Are you familiar with this one? The Sword of Damocles has reference to a supporter of the King of Syracuse. This supporter, named Damocles, often boasted of how wonderful it must be to be king. The king decided to allow Damocles to sit on his throne and enjoy a king's life for a day. At first, Damocles really enjoyed himself. But then he noticed that right above the throne a sword was suspended by a single horse hair. All of a sudden, the chair wasn't so comfortable any more, the food lost it's taste, and Damocles began to understand that those in positions of authority are often under great pressure to perform - or else.

This story is often used to point out the danger that people in authority are in. This danger may come from those who are around them, jealous of the power (or supposed power). It may come from arrogance (or ignorance) on the part of the powerful. And it may come from circumstances beyond the control of those in authority, and the reactions of others to the perceived actions and reactions of the authorities.

One of the greatest dangers and sins of the ancient Greeks was hubris. Hubris, which may be defined as arrogance or excessive self-aggrandizement (beta pride). Hubris is not only concerned with being better, but in being better than others. It is also the feelings of resentment towards those who are successful. People who suffer from hubris may soon find themselves victims to those they lorded over. People who suffer from envy may find their lives bitter and unfulfilled.

On the other hand, there is a pride which is mainly internal, a satisfaction with one's own performance (not position). This is referred to as alpha pride. This pride is not puffed-up, but a general feeling of satisfaction and pleasure that comes as a result of a job well-done. The achievement of a goal long sought is one of the things that may lead to this kind of pride. This pride is not concerned with being better than others, rather in improving one's own lot and performance. Whether one wins or loses is less important than how one performed compared to one's prior attempts. These kinds of people find themselves fulfilled and satisfied with their lives, while constantly looking to improve themselves to be better (it sounds contradictory, but I think you know what I mean...)

There is a kind of arrogance which can pervade the development community. It comes from developers who are only seeking the profit, from City staff who think they know more than the community members, and from elected or appointed officials who are defending the cause of the common man... It is against this kind of hubris that we must struggle. It will be long, but must go on.

East Texas Heat

Yesterday evening the sunset was particularly lovely. The sun was lighting up the tops of some of the big white puffy clouds that blow in off the Gulf. The lower portions of the clouds were in the shadows, but the tops were lit up with the golden rays of the ebbing day. My son and I were walking around in our neighborhood, enjoying the warm breeze and each other.

A little while later, there were some clouds that were hanging near where the sun had set but the sky was still light. My son said that it looked just like someone had ripped some paper and placed it on the sky. The clouds were also lit up from below by the lights from the industrial areas. Again, the breeze was like a soft, warm caress.

Ah, to spend time with one's children - can anything be better?

The Multi-Faceted Debate

So, what do you think of when you hear the words "multi-family housing"? How about "high-density residential developments"? Do these kinds of developments ruin a community? Does this kind of residence put a dent into the finances of a city? What about crime rates? And do they have to be high-rise concrete blocks of shoe-horned humanity?

For those of us who have lived in apartments, we know that there are a veritable plethora of advantages: no yard maintenance, lower housing costs, greater social interaction with neighbors, proximity to services, etc. But for some reason, these developments have received a bad reputation. Many of the common perceptions about multi-family housing are simply not true.

1. Multi-family housing is ugly. Multi-family housing is only as ugly as the market will allow. It is no more ugly than other kinds of development (commercial, retail, and single-family, low-density developments) where developers have an interest in selling their product (housing). Attractive housing sells and leases better and for more than ugly. In the past, government supported housing projects have helped promote the idea that multi-family housing is ugly (based on the idea that housing projects need to be done efficiently - read, cheaply - in order to maximize investment). But keep in mind that the government doesn't build these units any more. These developments are being done by the same folks as the single-family developments.

2. Multi-family housing is only for the poor. There are basically three kinds of multi-family residential developments: government projects, government-subsidized low income, and non-subsidized housing. As mentioned, government housing projects of the type that sprang up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s are not being constructed any more. In fact, many of these developments that were built are being torn down. It was a bad idea then, and it's a bad idea now. Even the government can learn, I guess.

Next, the government subsidizes some developments. There are specific guidelines for design that must be followed if a developer wants to gain this kind of subsidy. Most of these developments incorporate areas that are not low-income in addition to having units and/or renters who are receiving assistance.

Finally, there are non-subsidized housing developments. In order to be considered for government assistance, developers must meet certain criteria regarding the size, rent, and even materials and look of an apartment complex. Many developers choose not to meet this standard, usually wanting to build something bigger (more expensive). It is possible (however unlikely) that a person could qualify for housing assistance even in one of these apartment complexes, provided they can prove that their circumstances require that specific location. Thus, even the higher-end housing may have low-income tenants.

By and large, people who live in apartments are able to pay the full cost of the lease. While this may not be the same as a house payment, many times the cost of rent is equal to or greater than a mortgage. People from all backgrounds and economic status like apartments for the reasons listed above. In addition, as the baby-boom generation ages, they will demand housing choice that allows greater freedom than a traditional single-family house. These folks are not poor.

4. Multi-family increases crime. This is simply not substantiated. Wherever concentrations of people exist, a corresponding increase of crime is to be expected. But thieves and burglars are more likely to rob more affluent homes than town homes for the same reason that a Lexus is more likely to be stolen than my '99 Kia Sephia.

5. Multi-family increases tax burdens. This is true, but it is not the complete story. Placing people in apartments eliminates their tax burden (which is why some people opt for this kind of housing, anyway). But the property value increases based on improvements to the lot. The owner of the lot must pay an increase in the property value whether the apartments are leased or not. Thus, having empty apartments is better than having the agricultural exemption.

Further, these folks work, play, shop, and eat in the community. They buy gas, shoes, clothes, food, etc, all of which increases the sales tax base.

And speaking of exemptions, in Texas there is a tax exemption for folks who are over 65. People in apartments do not get this exemption. Thus, having retired folks in apartments frees up a home for someone who will pay taxes.

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that these services are exactly why a city is in existence. Those who for whatever reason find themselves in tough circumstances financially should find their burdens made easier by those who have plenty. Children of those who are poor will only find opportunities to succeed based on their educational chances. Rather than disparage those who are poor and discourage them from locating here (with our incredible schools), they should be encouraged to come and take advantage of the opportunity.

I have a lot more to say on this, but I think that this is enough for now. I look forward to hearing from you about this.

Property Rights and Development in Mont Belvieu

So, we are working on a comprehensive review of our City's zoning ordinance. It is an exhausting process, one that is at once exhilarating and boring. I have never felt more powerful, and never more humble.

Our City is unusual in many ways. Our reliance on the petrochemical is not unique, but the tax base that industry creates is. In addition to the uneasy relationship between the industry and the environment, there are people who live here, too. We have areas that are typical of a suburban environment adjacent to areas where there are alligators and egrets and bald cypresses and banana trees. We have very industrial areas adjacent to traditional retail areas next to residential areas (both high-density and very low-density). Our schools are all located together in one large campus (no far-flung elementary schools).

Our zoning ordinance is also very unique. It is the reason for a lot of what has happened with locating different uses near each other. It seems that our City has been zoned according to the traditional uses, not according to what uses are most compatable. Modern zoning dictates what uses are acceptable in which areas. But this is southeast Texas, where our largest city - Houston - has no universal zoning. And it shows.

So on one hand, people can see from nearby cities the problems that come from poor planning. But there is a deeply ingrained resentment regarding government intervention and imposition. Property rights are king.

So what do we do? How can we tell someone that they cannot use their quarter-acre lot for a home because to do so would adversely affect the industrial activities that MUST be located in the area that they are. Further, having a residence in so close proximity to the potentially hazardous storage facilities is not good practice either.

It is not a simple question.

What are we really all about?

As a planner, there are some things that I am responsible for and some things that I know I have little or no control over. Many times the things that I wish I could affect are beyond my influence.

So what is really important to you?

I have some friends and acquaintances who are going through some very difficult life problems right now. Friends with significant health problems, friends with children and parents and other family with significant health problems, friends with job and livelihood concerns, friends with all kinds of concerns and problems. They make my own problems look like nothing. Nothing.

The point is that there are some things that each of us must do to get through each day. Sometimes we make a difference in the world, and sometimes we just make it with our heads above water. In school we were taught that we would be able to make a large impact on the world. I feel like I am doing that. But at the end of the day it is very nice to go home to my family and remind myself what is really important.

I have stated before that cities must care for families and their needs - both the traditional families and those who have different needs. This can be done in many ways, and all of them are important. I hope I measure up to my responsibility.

The sky is so beautiful today.

Texas, Turtle Bayou, and Local Elections

I am consistently impressed with how beautiful it is here in Texas.

My son and I spent some time in the White's Park area (near Anahuac, Texas - about 20 miles east of here). It is located on Turtle Bayou, a picturesque setting of beautiful cypress and pine trees. I felt like I had stepped back in time 100 years and that Huck Finn and Jim would come floating by on a raft... It was so serene and lovely.

I have since learned about the history of Anahuac and Turtle Bayou and the role these places played in the history of Texas in general. Texas is a fiercely independent place, both on an individual level and all the way to the state level. Texas has its own state pledge of allegiance. Texas people have their own distinct views of the world and how things ought to be done. And there is a great reluctance to follow any sort of imposition which may lead to tyranny. It is hard to impose any kind of order on people who are so independent. Like herding rattlesnakes. Don't tread on me.

Well, in the natural course of things, we have had our elections for our Mayor and two of our City Council positions. Again, I am impressed by how wonderful it is to have elections like this take place in our community. People know that their vote really counts here, and people that are elected have the chance to make a real difference on the face of the local community. The incumbents were re-elected (Congratulations!) and we are now able to resume focus on the matters at hand. But underlying all of this is the current of individualism and independence. It makes things interesting...

What if?

My son likes to play the "what if" card.

As in, "What if you did get me a puppy?"

Or, "What if I got straight A's (something he does on a regular basis anyway... usually without much effort)? What are you going to get me?"

I usually respond with something like, "What if a huge meteor comes flying out of the sky and kills us all right now?" or something terribly clever like that. He gets completely exasperated. The point is that I am trying to teach him to deal with things as they are, rather than contemplating concerns or ideas that are completely impossible or improbable.

I wonder now if that's not the best policy. Perhaps I am quashing some of his creativity and expression. After all, as a planner it's my job to consider the long term impacts of decisions. And I have never heard of anyone who said that they had too much vision or had considered too many aspects of a problem.

I think that it's important to find a balance between our dreams and reality. I think that's why God gave us brains at the top of our bodies and our feet at the bottom. Our brains move us around and are able to see further away from our feet. Our feet keep us grounded. But always it is the brain which informs the feet about where we should be headed, and not the other way around.

Sometimes you are the tree

When I lived in Korea, I frequently saw pruning of trees along side the road. The branches were systematically removed until all that was left was a very long trunk with what I would call a branch ball at the top. The trees, so severely denuded of foliage, looked like so many stumps that were just extruded on the spot. This pruning was done in the fall of the year, after most of the leaves had fallen.

I wondered why they would do this. It seemed a particularly harsh thing to do. The trees looked like grand old ladies who had had their wigs removed - there was something of majesty that remained, but there was diminishment and shame.

All through the harsh winter, these trees remained standing in their forlorn state.

And then, in the spring, something miraculous happened. Leaves started pushing out through the tops of these trunks. The tree, though dead to all appearances, was dormant. And when warmed by the gentle rays of the springtime sun, the life within could not be restrained.

Later, I came to own trees myself. I hated to prune my trees. I remembered how these trees looked when trimmed of their glorious branches, and I hated to do that to my trees. But I came to understand over the course of years of working with my trees that old woody branches harbor disease. New branches that were unruly and reached too high put undue strain on the branches below, often causing breaks that could have been avoided. And ultimately, I had a vision in my mind of how I wanted the trees to look, and I was the designer. The trees, if left to their own devices, would become wild, uncontrolled, unproductive, and probably would die.

Sometimes you are the tree, and sometimes you are the arborist.

I want to ride my bicycle; I want to ride my bike!

Starting the middle of last week, I decided that I would ride my bike to work. It's a relatively short (about 2.5 mile) commute, so I am not saving a ton of gas money by doing it. But it's more about the statement that it can be done.

Here in what is historically a fairly rural location, it would seem that people would be more interested in seeing this kind of option. But (good-natured kidding from my co-workers and friends aside) there is some real reluctance to move over. Last Friday in particular was just awful. I usually ride with the traffic, but I had to run an errand on the opposite side of the street and rode down the "wrong" side of the road. People were right on me before they moved over, if they did at all. Now, you need to keep in mind that there are no paved shoulders. I do ride a mountain bike, with big knobby tires. But it's still easier to ride on the pavement. There are no sidewalks, no walking/biking trails, no alternative. Just a 4" strip on which to ride. It was scary to see the looks on people's faces as they drove by me - and didn't give me any space...

Legally, bicycles are considered vehicles. Cyclists should be given appropriate right of way, which includes a 4' buffer. If it is impossible to pass safely, then do not pass. Just wait - you'll still get there... Maybe 15 seconds later... And regardless, you wouldn't want to cause an accident - that would really slow you up, increase insurance, and generally ruin your day.

I am hoping that with increasing gas costs, people will make more trips on their bicycles and walking. As we do so, more pressure may be brought to bear on policy makers to create bike-and pedestrian-friendly transit options.

Planning for the future

What is the future of our City? How can we best plan for it to make sure that we are able to meet needs of future generations? What guiding principles and objectives should we put in place to guide the development of our City?

One of the most consistent comments I get from people regards the desire of people to retain a bucolic ideal while allowing for the inevitable development. Cities are dynamic things. The political environment that prevails today may not be the same environment that exists in the future.

In the United States, we have always had a love-hate relationship with the bucolic ideal and the need to tame the wilderness. We long for a world gone by, perhaps a function of our immigrant status (which is perhaps why we love quaint European cities for their ancientness) while at the same time struggle to create something here that hearkens back to that ideal. We love the natural environment, but allow people to mow down trees and pave over fields of amber waves of grain. We have the world's first and finest national parks, but right outside the gates we set up convenience stores and motels to ease the weary traveller. At a recent visit to Zion National Park, I was stunned to see there was an IMAX theater set up right at the park's entrance. Can you imagine such a thing? Zion National Park, with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, has an IMAX theater? Why?

This is just a symptom, the result of the way our culture has evolved. We don't want to go out and hike around and view the ACTUAL park; we want someone to do it for us - with the helicopter flyovers and the park rangers interpreting everything for us - while we sit in air conditioned comfort. So drive out to Zion and sit in a theater. What's the point of that? I could have stayed home...

The Ethical Function of a City

As part of my education, I studied a lot about the ethical function of architecture. I even had the opportunity to teaching assist a class twice on the subject. The long and short of the class was that the built environment (architecture) has an impact on the world and the people who live here. As such, architects have an ethical obligation to create buildings that are safe, useful, and beautiful (thanks, Vitruvius - you're still right). As planners, the same holds true.

But the function of city planning is much more complicated. Buildings are erected as monuments to the ideas of the architect and the desires of the owner. Thus, some buildings are more beautiful and monumental (a strong architect and supportive sponsor) or more efficient and inexpensive (a tight budget often leads to design compromises). In the case of cities, however, there are cities which are better, both socially and aesthetically. But cities are not the result of one person's dream and funding. Cities also take a long time to develop - hence the idea of a palimpsest. A palimpsest is an old type of paper that was used over and over again - paper was expensive and erasers not yet developed. So the top layer of the paper (or sheep skin or whatever) was simply scraped off and the paper was used again. But there was some penetration of the ink into the other layers, so a kind of faint ghost image of previous writing was still visible.

A city is like this - decisions we make now affect the way the land is used for generations to come.

Cities initially developed as places of society - people living in proximity for mutual benefit. People living this close to each other have concerns about health, safety, and general welfare, and thus turned to a government to help resolve these concerns. Modern zoning law evolved out of a general progression towards a restriction of uses in proximity (no iron smelting works near preschools, for example). This use restriction stems out of a need to regulate nuisances, health risks, and to promote environments in which people, businesses, and industries could thrive without undue intervention.

But there is a darker side to regulation. Too often there is an elitist faction that wishes to impose sever regulation on those who are disadvantaged. The "redlining" of certain districts in the early to mid part of the last century is the prime example of this. People in certain areas were unable to get mortgages or lines of credit for improvement. There was little in the way of public improvement. And all of this was generally focused on economic, race-based, policies aimed at the poor and people of color. It was ostensibly done to protect the property values of people in non-redlined areas. But the result was an overall degradation of these poor neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are still there, and still reeling from the effects of these policies. While there is now a federal law regarding these practices, the Fair Housing Act has had repercussions that were not intended.

What has happened is that developers have determined that the way to circumvent these regulations is to build big houses on big lots and charge a premium for them. They can add restrictive covenants to the deed for the lot that bind people to the disposition of the lot in perpetuity. People are legally required to cut their grass, park their cars in their garage, and remove trash cans from the street or face home owner's association (HOA) sanction and ultimately possible civil legal action. All of this leads to artificially increased property values, higher tax rates, and additional fees for the "privilege" of owning a home in the area.

Developers will claim that the use of deed restrictions is not universal and ethnically or racially discriminatory. Again, ostensibly this is true. But the reality is that the increase in cost effectively cuts off people from living in places they might need or want to live. For example, there are a lot of people who live in this area who are not able to afford housing because of the regulations that have been imposed both on the community level and the subdivision level.

So what do we do? How do we make sure that poor folks have a place to live? There are exponentially more poor than there are rich. And there is no way to easily classify these folks - some are white widows, others are new immigrants; some are old, others are young; some are white, but most are not.

Are these people just a net drain on our society?

I guess that depends on what you mean by that. If you base that decision on a purely economic basis, you are probably right in the short term. For a short period of time, these folks do not contribute as much to the tax base of an area as a rich person would. But long term, there are other significant problems with this kind of thinking.

There are things to be gained from living in proximity to people who have different backgrounds, ideas, and beliefs. Poor people offer the opportunity to serve and share. They have often learned from the crucible of hard experience that there are ways to get by on little. And often they have had the dross burned away in the fires of affliction, leading to a kind of refined nobility.

But if they are ignored and neglected, then the cancer that has become poverty in our society will continue to grow. Education is the key to all of this. It is the only chance for the poor, and it is the only salvation of those who have more. Countries are not judged on how their rich are sequestered in ivory towers and exclusive subdivisions. They are judged on how they care for their poor and disadvantaged. How are we doing?

The Beauty of a Tree

Here in East Texas, there is a strange substance unfamiliar to me. It comes right out of the ground, is generally green in color and hard and rough in texture. Sometimes it is very tall, other times not so much. Some have leaves, others needles. Oh, right. They're trees.

As I mentioned previously, I am from Utah. Moving to Mont Belvieu has brought many interesting new experiences, including the number of amazing trees and forests around. Utah's idea of a tree or forest is very different from Texas.

There is something about having trees in abundance that leads to a kind of contempt. In Utah, every tree is a cause for celebration and it is carefully tended and shepherded until it can provide some all important shade.

Here in Southeast Texas, the story is different. Here trees grow without planting and any other effort - it's really amazing. And while everyone appreciates a beautiful tree, not many people realize how many beautiful trees there really are around here.

I recently finished a conference on the value of trees. There has been much research done on the economic value of trees and the surrounding community. I would also like to highlight the aesthetic value of trees. I have seen landscapes completely devoid of trees and anything living. It's awesome and expansive and humbling. But you can't live there. Or even be there for long. People crawling through the old West deserts would look for trees because where there are trees, there is water, and where there's water, you can live. So ultimately, trees are life.

So while trees may not hug back, they give in every way they can.

Beautiful Mont Belvieu

I am surprised on occasion when people who have been here for a long time don't realize how beautiful it is here. This is an incredibly beautiful place.

Case in point: last Thursday I was driving to work. The road I drive on takes me over Cotton Bayou. The morning air was cool, and the water in the bottom of the ravine was warm, creating a layer of mist that hung in the gully. The sun was just rising above the horizon and sparkling through the trees onto the mist as it floated and moved in the slight breeze. All of this was framed by the dewy dark grassy green of the sides of the bayou and the dark depths of the trees behind. It was sublime, and the sublimity of the moment was heightened by the transient nature of the scene. Ah, Moment, thou art indeed wonderful! Stay, thou fleeting Moment!

But like all such Faustian moments, they must move on. The promise lies in the future of such moments to come.

In the meantime, it's time to get to work.

I have had a couple of people write comments about some of the things I have written. I would like to respond:

Libraries are the repository of learning and knowledge for a community. They reflect the highest values of the community, and show that we are interested in more than just sports. The introduction of public libraries has taken a varied path in the United States, from one-room schoolhouses to the great Carnegie Libraries that instituted libraries all over the country. And the commentator rightly points out that libraries can be much more - internet research, english language classes, remedial reading, adult contimuing education, and other public functions are all ancillary uses to which libraries may and should be used. As I focus on creating a new comprehensive plan for the City, a City Library will be one of the top priorities I have. It is good to hear from people who share this priority.

Sidewalks, paths, and trails are also very important to our community. As I have written in previous posts, transportation options should be varied. It is frustrating to me that I have to drive my children to school when the schools are within walking distance. In an age where obesity is an affliction for all, and an ever-increasing health risk (especially for those who are least prepared to pay the high price of health care) it makes sense for communities to look for ways to increase physical activity. Not everyone is well-suited to competitive, team-based sports or activities (opportunities for which abound in this community). Many people would just like to go for a walk. Right now, our community is not well suited to provide opportunities for this. Rest assured, I am working on it. The park that is being planned right now will include miles of paths and trails. I am requiring the potential for connectivity between neighborhoods as a main design feature of the park's trail system. Further, there are miles and miles of pipeline easements and CWA (Houston's water canals) easements that could easily be interconnected to create a system of trails and paths that make it easy for people to get anywhere in the City without having to even get on a road. These need not be expensive, concrete covered paths per se, but should be organized and planned such that interconnectivity is heightened.

PS - I would like to respond to the commentators directly, but I don't know how without an email address. Shoot me an email at bcobabe@montbelvieu.net and we'll talk. Or stop on by my office - I am here all the time!

Pruitt-Igoe, Cabrini Green, Robert Moses, Le Corbusier, and the beat goes on...

Pruitt Igoe happened 40 years ago.

Cabrini Green is still around, but is in the process of being removed.

We are still cleaning up the messes of Robert Moses. Some things may never return.

le Corbusier wrote his revolutionary ideas in the early last century.

What have they done for you lately?

In a word, the automobile.

These conveyances have been lovingly referred to as "non-point source emitters." All that means is that so many of us are dependent on cars to get around that the problem is nearly ubiquitous. Think about it - when was the last time you walked to the store? To work? Rode a bike? Or even a horse?

People mistakenly think that the CAR IS HERE TO STAY! It is not the case. In the millenia of modern human recordable history, the car is a relative newcomer. We got along great without cars for thousands of years, and someday we will do fine without them again. Maybe we will all go back to riding horses...

OK, that was more of a joke than a real suggestion.

But with more and more of our discretionary income going to getting around, and with the state of our built environment being geared solely towards the automobile, we are in for trouble. What happens when an immovable object (the bureaucracy) meets an irresistible force (rising fuel costs)?

Well, we'll see. Sit back and enjoy the ride.