In many places, the perceived costs of development often inspire intense opposition, while the benefits take years, even decades, to materialize, if ever.
Who profits? Obviously, the developer and the farmer. We can speculate on who else, like the county commissioners, the P&Z people and building inspectors.
Who pays for the additional infrastructure needed to support these developments? Think about it! Certainly not the developer or the farmer who sold the property. According to the Cape Gazette, Cool Spring Crossing will add 1,922 housing units, and Northstar will add 852 housing units.
Water, sanitation and electricity don’t just automatically increase in availability. Who pays for increasing the capacity of the power lines to meet the demands of a large development? The utility company and you the ratepayer. Who pays to increase the size of the wastewater treatment plant? The taxpayer. How about the new well and pumping station for domestic water? Yes, you the taxpayer, with bond issues and higher taxes.
Then there are crowded classrooms or new classrooms, and school buses. Again, it is the taxpayer. What about the fire department and emergency services?
These are the hidden costs of development that require major capital outlays on the part of the community. The construction jobs are temporary. The congestion is permanent. The increases in taxes and special levies to pay for the new infrastructure are permanent. Increases in staffing the utility operations and schools are permanent.
Who suffers? The commuter who now has another signal that was generously donated by the developer. The schools that are already overcrowded. We all suffer the congestion and creeping traffic on Routes 1 and 9. The drive to BWI airport takes longer and longer because the roads haven’t been widened to accommodate the increased traffic.
Oh sure, there are plans and budgets, but they are years away. Meanwhile, we all suffer the benefits of another 2,774 units.
Who benefits? Well, the construction worker for the short time the project is being built. I certainly don’t benefit from another large development dumping more traffic on Route 9 to the airport. I no longer go to Ace Hardware on Route 9 because I can’t get out of the parking lot due to the traffic. Think about it.
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