In Boulder, CO: "This is Mega-NIMBYism at work"

The title of this article in CityLab is, "They Are Coming for Our Neighborhoods"; who is 'They'? Developers of course. Some in Boulder want to stop development, all development, and in effect freeze any possible growth in that city. Here are three excerpts from the article:

     In context, “they” means developers. But in reality, “they” are people: workers, families, low-income residents, and other people who might one day like to call Boulder home. If voters affirm the Neighborhoods’ Right to Vote on Land-Use Regulation Changes amendment (ballot issue #300) on November 3, then they will be effectively freezing growth in Boulder—by turning one city into 66 new exclusionary zones with final say on housing and density. [emphasis added]

[and . . .]

     This is mega-NIMBYism at work. It essentially yields the municipal government’s authority over zoning decisions to neighborhoods acting as zoning boards—66 of them, none of which have any incentive to accommodate higher density or affordable housing. As in just about any “zoning rights” discussion, the measure’s boosters support the right for homeowners to preserve high land values in single-family home districts—and force developers and affordable-housing advocates to look elsewhere.

[and lastly . . .]

     “Livable Boulder's neighborhood right-to-vote initiative would create two classes of Boulder citizens for any given land-use issue,” Yates [Jessica Yates, an attorney] writes. “Only one class would be eligible to vote on a council land-use action, leaving the vast majority of us on the sideline on any given issue, even if we live adjacent to or work in the neighborhood in question and have a direct interest in the proposed land use.”

Something very similar was tried here in Florida with Amendment 4; it failed in a spectacular fashion. The reality is if voters approve a freeze nothing actually gets frozen in time. The inevitable would occur like what happened in San Francisco and everywhere else development is stopped: prices for property and homes will rise and many residents will be displaced—even some who support this proposed measure. 

The vote will be on November 3rd. I'll let you know how it turns out. The post below is a flashback to Amendment 4 in Florida.