Property Rights Advocate Supports More Open Space

Great article in the San Francisco Chronicle about a real estate agent in the East Bay who actively helps broker land use deals for the various park districts in the area. There's no conflict between lots of preserves and private land holding its value; in fact keeping open space increases land and home values. If I already owned property adjacent to a San Diego County canyon, I would be the first to complain if someone wanted to put in a power line or an overpass or a new subdivision.

The private property rights advocate in the article addresses the concern that's in the back of most land- and home-owners' minds: "[Park districts do] not have the power to condemn property," he said Wednesday while tromping around the Briones Valley property. "But what it does is bring another buyer on the market, and that's a good thing." When open space is freed up for development, there's one winner - the developer, and next thing you know, San Diego is completely losangelized. Adjacent landowners lose property value and open space lovers lose enjoyment. There's a lot of money to be had for the developer, which is why they try to scare people out of supporting their parks and preserves.