Virginia House Speaker William Howell (R-Stafford) said his party will introduce several bills to address sprawl during the 2007 session. Another plan to be proposed would allow impact fees on new construction to be imposed on areas outside of "high density zones." A third plan would force cities, and counties to maintain all new subdivision streets.
Governor Tim Kaine remarked that he thought the issue of over development is one which Republicans, and Democrats can work together on, and even said he liked the plans:
"I think it's an area where there's a lot of common ground. I think that they're looking at it in a smart way."
Kaine went on to say that he plans to unveil his own proposals to fight sprawl during the upcoming session. Republican Delegate Clay Athey Jr. of Warren said Democrats and Republicans need to "join forces" to override objections from builders who have of course, opposed impact fees.
"They are a major change in direction for the commonwealth of Virginia," Athey said of the growth-control proposals, which he helped to develop.
According to the Pilot article, most of the financial incentives for targeting high-density growth into designated areas are aimed at counties such as Loudoun and Prince William in Northern Virginia.
While I'm thrilled that the problem is being addressed, MUCH MORE needs to be done than simply imposing fees on builders building outside of a certain area. Sure builders may put up a fight, but in the end, if passed, all this is going to do is force builders to pass along the cost of the fee to the buyer. These proposals do NOTHING to stop out of control development.
Per the growth problem in Virginia, while transportation is a concern I share with almost everyone in the Commonwealth, I'm personally much more concerned with the environmental impact than I am with traffic.
I'll be keeping an eye out for Governor Kaine's proposals, hoping they are a little more well thought out than the Republican plans seem to be.