Key Issues for Sustainability
Here are a few of the areas that I think are critical in maintaining this balance:
Here are a few of the areas that I think are critical in maintaining this balance:
- Land Use - One of the most contentious issues in Provo during my lifetime has been land use decisions. Clearly we have a lot of work to do on land use policies. This will likely continue to be one of the major areas of focus in the coming years.
First and foremost, I believe that we have to recognize that history has brought us to where we are today. While there is a good argument to be made for a better system if we were starting from scratch, that’s not the world we live in. Tens of thousands of current property owners have acquired land with specific expectations based on the zoning in place at the time. Making indiscriminate and frequent changes to those rules creates wealth redistribution, uncertainty, and ultimately frustration. In the past, policy makers have had to work within our current system (as imperfect as it may be) recognizing the impact that one neighbor’s actions may have on another, and have chosen to regulate those actions in many cases.
My view on land use is that we have somewhat of a mess that has been created by extreme policy decisions in both directions. Some poor decisions have been made that inappropriately ignore impacts on neighbors and neighborhoods. On the other hand, poor decisions have been made that over-regulate and unnecessarily limit the ability of property owners to improve and enjoy their property.
My neighborhood (Foothills) has historically taken a more calculated and thoughtful approach to land use that has resulted in some very good incremental decisions. We are arguably the most diverse neighborhood in Provo, with a healthy mix of commercial properties, high density student-oriented rentals, small starter homes, mid-range condos, long-term residents, and new higher income properties. Yet, we seem to have very few disputes or issues related to land use. I think this is because of our willingness to accept the rights associated with the status quo, then explore options that represent win-win solutions. It’s not always been easy, but I think I can bring this approach to other neighborhoods. - Infrastructure - Another key area for maintaining a sustainable balance is infrastructure. This balance requires attention to critical city services - power, sanitation, transportation, communication, and recreation, among others. The attractiveness of Provo as a place to live, work, or start a business depends critically on how well we do in providing consistent and quality services.
In my view, these areas largely fall under the purview of the executive branch and I believe they are high priorities of our current mayor. I look forward to working with experts from the executive branch to continue to evaluate and update our long-range policies to ensure consistent availability of a quality infrastructure. - Public Safety - Provo is a very safe city. However we are not without our problems. I believe that continued efforts to combat crime and promote public safety are critical to keeping the balance we currently enjoy. I think we all recognize that there are parts of Provo that are not doing as well as they could, and this has the potential to upset our livable balance.
- Economic Development - Attracting businesses to Provo and keeping them here has two major impacts on keeping the balance. First, businesses provide value to the residents. They provide employment opportunities as well as providing goods and services that people want. Second, businesses that locate to Provo generate revenue for the city that is necessary to provide infrastructure and public safety. Besides maintaining a quality infrastructure, the other key to attracting businesses is to keep the tax burden low, but we do need the revenue to provide the infrastructure. As you can see, this is a bit of a catch-22 situation. There are competing interests and this requires a complex balancing act. In my view, the goal should be to have a low tax rate on a broad base. I would like to be part of the development of a fiscally conservative government that keeps taxes on business and property as low as possible, attracting and growing the business sector while still providing enough revenue to provide critical services to both businesses and residents.
