Highlands Bill will bring House prices down? - The "All Opinions are Welcome, but Sorry no Instigators" Board

Rockaway10yrs · Status: Offline

Highlands Bill will bring House prices down?

rockres23yrs · Status: Offline

If future development was greatly reduced in the township I'm not sure taxes would rise. Most of the tax bill is for the school system which is based on number of students which in turn is a function of housing development. Less development results in less school spending which is pretty much a wash.

Despite all the development in the township over the last couple of decades, taxes have not been reduced. Conversely, in the absence of development, taxes should not rise other than for inflation.

CC on the other hand is definitely a cause for concern over taxes. First because of the loss of the ratable and second because of the increased demand for municipal services.

karen · Status: Offline

From a home-buyer's perspective, I would most certainly pay a good deal more for a home in an area that was not likely to see further development.

In fact, I did--with pleasure.

And I like it this way.

Hence, my strong opinions on this matter.

p.s. I happen to know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Jay R · Status: Offline

Laws of supply & demand.

Stop future development of homes and people will be forced to purchase existing homes instead of building new ones. The inventory will decrease causing prices to rise.

Of course, if taxes rise also, that will be a drag on prices.

My guess is that in the long run, as our state gets more and more congested, the areas that stay rural will become even more desirable.

Of course, if we have tons of traffic from a massive mega-development, our town might not be viewed as rural...

karen · Status: Offline

Special Reports for the next couple days in the Daily Record (excerpt below). Full article here:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/highlands/

For the most part, single lots of an acre or less would not be affected by the changes. Anyone owning a single home should not even notice a change -- except to his home's value and possibly property taxes in the future.

But any larger development would need a special Highlands permit.

New rules

To get such a permit, these developments would have to keep a 300-foot buffer around all waters, could not cover more than 3 percent of the land with buildings and impervious ground covers, and would not be allowed to disturb most forestland. Also, development would be prohibited on slopes with a grade of 20 percent of more. And stricter rules for the diversion of water and filling land would have to be met.

Lisa Salberg · Status: Offline

This is in todays Daily Record.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/highlands/cooverview.html

But the forests won, both in the Legislature and in the hearts of many who live in the Highlands.

"I think it's about time they do this," said Jan Kristiansen, whose Norseman Auto Repair and Gulf Station on Green Pond Road in Rockaway Township appears to be in the southern tip of the preservation area in that part of the township.

"If they do preserve it, I think property values will go up," continued Kristiansen, who has lived in Rockaway Township for 50 years and owned the service station for 26. "I think it will be a nicer place to live."

Lisa Salberg · Status: Offline

also from this article:

New rules

To get such a permit, these developments would have to keep a 300-foot buffer around all waters, could not cover more than 3 percent of the land with buildings and impervious ground covers, and would not be allowed to disturb most forestland. Also, development would be prohibited on slopes with a grade of 20 percent of more. And stricter rules for the diversion of water and filling land would have to be met.

A 15-member council, with members of all Highlands counties and both political parties represented, would be appointed to oversee the rules. It would also draft a regional master plan governing the preservation area and also suggesting where in that half of the Highlands designated the planning area -- that land not in the preservation area -- development may be appropriate. But it would be up to municipal officials whether to accept development transferred from the preservation area under a transfer of development rights program.

BR · Status: Offline

So if the Agilent property is 107 acres, only 3.21 acres can be disrupted or covered.

Some quick math based on my guestimates and assumptions:

GENERAL PROPERTY

(43,560 feet per acre) X (107 Acres) = 4,660,920 square feet

(3%) of (4,660,920 square feet) = 139,828 square feet of allowable coverage, not including 300 foot buffers on 3 sides, exising forest area and exisitng wetlands

PARKING

I conservitively calcualte 250 square feet per parking space including access areas and roads. Total occupancy of what is being proposed is over 4500 people, at 2.2 people per parking space = roughly 2000 parking spaces required.

(2000 parking spaces) X (250 square feet) = 500,000 square feet

BUILDING

The exisitng Building is 421,000 square feet. I assume there are 2 stories for most of the building? To be safe let's lop 421,000 in half = 210,500 square feet for the structure.

The numbers don't add up here. CC better have one he11 of an architect!