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Absolutely agree. It's about doing what you want that fits your lifestyle. My argument is with people who want me to fit some prescribed lifestyle that fits their notion of "responsible" or other politically motivated idea.
I said that whatever makes people happy is all that matters (I said that twice actually) and that for some reason, people in this country feel like they have to move out to the burbs and into a big house when they have kids which isn't true at all. People want to do that. I understand everyone's living situation and budget is different but I have a feeling that more people do it because that was the trend during the baby boomer generation and ever sence then, that's all people have been used to so they feel like they have no choice but to stay out there, especially when we see that that's what everyone else is doing too. I wasn't trying to peddle some politically motivated propaganda down your throat and I have nothing against houses.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RainyRainyDay
I'm quite irked by the condescending tone and slanted language employed by some of the urban living enthusiasts on this thread. Apparently as a three person family we're not qualified to reside in the suburbs. If we'd produced a couple more kids it would be tolerated. And our house a McMansion? Really, McCrackerbox would be more like it.
I apologize if I offended you in any way. Again, all I was trying to say is that families of three and four can live in condos and apartments. Not that they have to. Although, McCrackerbox is kind of a funny nickname.
-----------------------------
Back to the topic;
Quote:
Originally Posted by hellomrwest
^^^Id would like to see some sort of Inter County Connector built that spans the north Metro. Its where most of the traffic seems to be in the work week.
I think something needs to be done about the traffic on the north side too. and while I kind of agree that building some inter county highway or bypass would help tremendously, building more bypasses further out tends to just encourage more sprawl even further out. I.E. exurbs of today becoming the suburbs of tomorrow. Again, some sort of land use policy needs to be addressed before I would feel comfortable with the building of what could potentially become i385.
True. But many areas have adopted comprehensive plans to have good growth and make sure the growth works overall. Seems that is the only missing piece in the Atlanta metro.
I don't claim to be an expert in planning or zoning, but in other parts of the country where I've lived, I was never aware of any kind of master plan. If you wanted to build, you went before the zoning board of the town or city. Here in GA you go before the county or city for zoning. What's the difference?
I welcome learning new things....can you provide an example an area of the country and what they are doing differently from GA and how it's better?
If you live in the METRO Atlanta region you will have a chance to vote on a 1 cent sales tax in 2012 for transportation. Will you vote for this? Yes, No, Why?
I will definitely vote YES for the sales tax. It is about time this backwards state wake up. I wish some of the suburbanites would wake up as well. They are the ones who complain the most about traffic, yet they do not want to do anything about it, except complain.
In addition, we (Atlanta) have lost out on the relocation of some private businesses and even another Fortune 500 company (MeadWestvaco) due to traffic and poor infrastructure: Georgia Trend.
I am not an expert either but know many areas have a comprehensive plan and have always heard that was a problem in the Atlanta metro growth (the fact they didn't have a plan). If so that could be a cause of the traffic problems.
A google search for the term comes up with many cities and their plans. It appears Atlanta has one titled 2004-2019 - City of Atlanta Online (http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/planning/cdp.aspx - broken link)
From one of the links provided below:
Some of the benefits of having effective GMA comprehensive plans:
• Cities and counties integrate decisions about land uses, transportation, water capacity, public facilities, natural resources, environmental protection, economic development, housing and other issues.
• Fiscal accountability is built into GMA plans. Local governments identify the capital facility needs, along with estimated costs and revenues for each facility. Planning for these facilities is linked with land use decisions about the location and density of population growth.
• Developers and citizens know what to expect as communities make clear decisions and as jurisdictions coordinate with each other and with local districts that provide service.
a few links:
http://planningexcellence.org/admin/files/resources/stateplanning/SCP-whatisacomprehensiveplan.pdf (broken link)
City of Madison Comprehensive Plan : Welcome (http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/comp/ - broken link)
I don't claim to be an expert in planning or zoning, but in other parts of the country where I've lived, I was never aware of any kind of master plan. If you wanted to build, you went before the zoning board of the town or city. Here in GA you go before the county or city for zoning. What's the difference?
I welcome learning new things....can you provide an example an area of the country and what they are doing differently from GA and how it's better?
If you live in the METRO Atlanta region you will have a chance to vote on a 1 cent sales tax in 2012 for transportation. Will you vote for this? Yes, No, Why?
Will have to wait and see. The disguised 1 cent tax is not one cent as most of the media advertises by 1%, yes 1 cent per dollar, but a 1 dollar tax per hundred, which in todays world of cost is more logical. One just has to love the full time language marketing experts paid to craft words in public releases.
Many in the media use the case that Georgia has "one" of the lowest gas taxes in the nation thus some of the lowest dollars for transportation, though fails to mention that a 4% + average current local 2-3% sales tax, combined with the current state 6% income tax, equals an upper tier current state taxation in the nation, interesting.
Once again, it is amazing how "government" void of any party as both have this disease, have began to ask the working public to cough up pennies now for a plan they will "plan" at a later date. Current status, pay now for no plan now but a plan later that may not equal the plan now not planned but advertised.
Now, if they would state that the transit bill will be treated as a dedicated SPLOST account and required for a dedicated mass transit plan, in which the dedicated 1% SPLOST cannot be used for "other" purposes under the cover of darkness I may support. Under the current line of "you give me another dollar of your money and I (Government) "might" give you a service in return" is not supported.
All in all we have been duped for decades by elected government officials to the point that those working are taxed to the max via income, sales, service, and usage, which we do not see the benefit, I cannot trust the current request at the present time.
Geez louise, that's what I been trying to say all along, that there should be some kind of growth plan. How is it that folks can go around, complain about traffic, but not only ignore the conditions that lead to traffic gridlock but bypass even the conception of a solution to those problems?
Now we have all these unfinished McMansions & halfway developed neighborhoods that are becoming magnets for crackheads, criminals, & urban campers... Hellooo!!! Bells should be going off in people's heads right now!
It's time to start contemplating NOW about a growth plan of some kind so that we can avoid or at least mitigate current problems like gridlock and unfinished developments in the future.
Quote:
Originally Posted by noah
I am not an expert either but know many areas have a comprehensive plan and have always heard that was a problem in the Atlanta metro growth (the fact they didn't have a plan). If so that could be a cause of the traffic problems.
A google search for the term comes up with many cities and their plans. It appears Atlanta has one titled 2004-2019 - City of Atlanta Online (http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/planning/cdp.aspx - broken link)
From one of the links provided below:
Some of the benefits of having effective GMA comprehensive plans:
• Cities and counties integrate decisions about land uses, transportation, water capacity, public facilities, natural resources, environmental protection, economic development, housing and other issues. • Fiscal accountability is built into GMA plans. Local governments identify the capital facility needs, along with estimated costs and revenues for each facility. Planning for these facilities is linked with land use decisions about the location and density of population growth. • Developers and citizens know what to expect as communities make clear decisions and as jurisdictions coordinate with each other and with local districts that provide service.
a few links:
http://planningexcellence.org/admin/files/resources/stateplanning/SCP-whatisacomprehensiveplan.pdf (broken link)
City of Madison Comprehensive Plan : Welcome (http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/comp/ - broken link)
I will definitely vote YES for the sales tax. It is about time this backwards state wake up. I wish some of the suburbanites would wake up as well. They are the ones who complain the most about traffic, yet they do not want to do anything about it, except complain.
In addition, we (Atlanta) have lost out on the relocation of some private businesses and even another Fortune 500 company (MeadWestvaco) due to traffic and poor infrastructure: Georgia Trend.
Marketing? As far as I am concerned a 1% tax is 1% anyway you look at it. Seems pretty straight forward.
I assume this plan would work like taxes for stadium's and other special projects where the funds are allocated purely for the projects on the list and nothing else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Georgia
Will have to wait and see. The disguised 1 cent tax is not one cent as most of the media advertises by 1%, yes 1 cent per dollar, but a 1 dollar tax per hundred, which in todays world of cost is more logical. One just has to love the full time language marketing experts paid to craft words in public releases.
Now, if they would state that the transit bill will be treated as a dedicated SPLOST account and required for a dedicated mass transit plan, in which the dedicated 1% SPLOST cannot be used for "other" purposes under the cover of darkness I may support. Under the current line of "you give me another dollar of your money and I (Government) "might" give you a service in return" is not supported.
I apologize for the last part of my remark, Neil. It was ignorant, rash, & uncalled for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by neil0311
I'm not the one prescribing how people should build and live. No "my way" comments coming from me. I'm all about giving people freedom to live the way they want. The "my way" prescriptions are coming from elsewhere, and I don't belittle other lifestyles or use pejoratives to describe them.
Bottom line....most people live outside the City of Atlanta. Much of the corporate presence and jobs are outside the City of Atlanta. From a transportation POV, we need solutions to help people who don't live and don't work in the City of Atlanta. Some of those people may commute to Atlanta, and we need both highway and improved transit for them, but more importantly, we need options for people who live and work outside of the city. You may wish that everyone lived inside a small area in the city, but the reality is that's not the case. I prefer to deal with the reality.
BTW...should I start calling small condos or small homes "McCrackerboxes" ....would that be cool?
Location: Mableton, GA USA (NW Atlanta suburb, 4 miles OTP)
11,334 posts, read 26,074,740 times
Reputation: 3995
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonygeorgia
If you live in the METRO Atlanta region you will have a chance to vote on a 1 cent sales tax in 2012 for transportation. Will you vote for this? Yes, No, Why?
I want to learn more first, of course, but my initial inclination is to vote in favor of it. There are times when it's nice to have a transportation option other than a car...
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