The following letter responds to Kevin Conlon’s story, “Sussex County Council introduces six rules to limit housing growth.”
The headline should have read "Six proposals to increase housing prices offered to Sussex County Council" because that is exactly what the proposals will do. From the perspective of comprehending the way economics works, I am speaking out for the people who grow up in Sussex County and want to buy a house here when they reach that time in their life. For those folks, Sussex County should be seeking ways to increase the number of houses built, not decreasing them. This is simple and basic economics that has been shown to work exactly in this simple way in community after community after community in the USA and beyond. When housing is built fast enough, prices stabilize. When house building is constrained by any significant means, prices rise faster, sometimes skyrocket. The worst of the ideas is preserving farmland. That will wildly constrain development if it succeeds and is the biggest mistake.
Lest anyone think I have a stake in this, I own my home, work for a company not tied to development in any way here. And despite my letter today, I think I can pretty much count on its ideas being ignored. And thereby I am all but certain that my house will rise in price over time, which will be great for me and my economic security. But, it will come at the expense of the economic security of young people who will suffer. And I don't have any children or grandchildren. So, sure, I have a stake in this. Thanks for the economic boost, Sussex County.
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