http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/06/08/putting-a-chill-on-sprawl-in-new-jersey/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/06/08/putting-a-chill-on-sprawl-in-new-jersey/comment-page-1/#comment-6312 Deborah Post Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:02:20 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=2238#comment-6312 The Highlands Act of New Jersey is an egregious regulatory taking that eviscerated $6 billion of property values, largely the equity of local small farmers. Many of those harmed are the elderly, people who still farmed their grandfather's farmland and who cared more about their farm than the siren's call of the developers wad of cash. Their private 401-K, equity stored in their land, has been taken from them by a government action. The Highlands Act was unfunded and no compensation has been paid for the property value losses. Although the Act included a TDR program, in theory, it is now five years from the Act's passage, not one TDR has been issued, bot or sold, and the initial offering price has been set at 17.5 cents on the appraised dollar by a group of environmental extremists who sit on the politically appointed Highlands Council, a de facto dictatorship. No matter how laudable the goal - environmental or other, - unjust, unfair and unconstitutional means are never justified. Without property protection, our American capitalist system will ultimately fail. Just look at the ex-Soviet states. And the real crime is that those harmed are precisely those who have been good stewards of the scarce remaining NJ open space. No good deed goes unpunished. The Highlands Act of New Jersey is an egregious regulatory taking that eviscerated $6 billion of property values, largely the equity of local small farmers. Many of those harmed are the elderly, people who still farmed their grandfather’s farmland and who cared more about their farm than the siren’s call of the developers wad of cash. Their private 401-K, equity stored in their land, has been taken from them by a government action. The Highlands Act was unfunded and no compensation has been paid for the property value losses. Although the Act included a TDR program, in theory, it is now five years from the Act’s passage, not one TDR has been issued, bot or sold, and the initial offering price has been set at 17.5 cents on the appraised dollar by a group of environmental extremists who sit on the politically appointed Highlands Council, a de facto dictatorship. No matter how laudable the goal – environmental or other, – unjust, unfair and unconstitutional means are never justified. Without property protection, our American capitalist system will ultimately fail. Just look at the ex-Soviet states. And the real crime is that those harmed are precisely those who have been good stewards of the scarce remaining NJ open space. No good deed goes unpunished.

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