As I was preparing for the HBA April Courier, it occurred to me that with HBA's many new members they might like to read some of our previous articles.

     With that thought in mind I found the March article from 2001 that addresses land use issues. A subject that is now in vogue again.

In this article I speak of Urban Boundaries, you ask, "what are Urban Boundaries?"

     It is a method to prevent building or developing outside of a defined urban area until there are not any more lands left to build on within that urban area, which thus reduces choices of life style. In 2001 urban boundaries were non-existent - now there are several within the state.

     The Mahoning Valley Home Builders/Remodelers researched this issue, borrowed ideas from Summit County Bldg Association after an enlightened field trip and found a method to still provide choices for our 3-county citizens. It is called "Sustainable Development".

     If the officials within our three county association area decide to encourage "Progressive Planning", such as Urban Boundaries our organization will be prepared.

     I thought that January in the year 2001 would be a good time for thinking. Wrong!!! James Thurbur was right when he said, "sixty minutes of thinking of any kind is bound to lead to confusion and unhappiness".

     My thoughts turned to the articles that have passed my desk on Urban Sprawl and how the developments have been defamed for spoiling the green open spaces.

     Then, I thought about the article on "migration to the cities to cause major headaches". This article put my older mind to a test. I remembered that in the late 60's, 1968 to be exact, the Federal Government encouraged development out of the urban areas because of the pressure on the cities infrastructure. It is 33 years later and there are still problems with those same infrastructures. I also remember a 60's or 70's program that would address "redistribution of population". "Build it and they will come", theory. That is precisely how the Atlanta Airport developed and the Saturn Plant in Tennessee, only to name two of many examples.

     The government guided our choices on where to live in the 60's and 70's. If various groups continue with their planning ideas we will be guided again through what is called "Urban Boundaries".

     Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, "The function of government must be to favor no small group at the expense of its duty to protect the rights of personal freedom and of private property for all its citizens."

     Last year, Mahoning County contracted with Youngstown State Urban Studies Dept. for a survey that indicates the desire of the citizens of the unincorporated areas of Mahoning County. The survey has been completed and is in the process of being compiled. But looking through the rough results, it is clear that people want lifestyle choices. Will urban boundaries give them those choices?

     We can still have well planned quality of life, but it is going to take communication and cooperation. All parties involved in land use decisions need to not only talk, but to listen.

     "A problem well stated is a problem half solved", said Charles F. Kettering.

As I stated in the beginning of this article, thinking can be depressing. We have passed through Farm Land Preservation and Urban Sprawl. I now predict the next issue will be to take steps toward the elimination of townships. It has already started in Illinois. Maybe that is why some bureaucrats want urban boundaries since they do not have to deal with township entities. To the voting public who live in townships, the township is their neighborhood.

     "Our differences are politics, our agreements, principle", as once said by President William McKinley.<!-- End_Module_836 -->