The Other Side Of Takings: Givings

"It is time we took the offense in the takings debate and launched a 'givings movement.' If the public must pay private property owners whenever a public action diminishes the value of their property, then property owners should compensate the public whenever public actions increase the value of the property.

The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of public actions elevate land and property values.

...Gaining a zoning change is the pot of gold at the end of any developer's rainbow. A change in zoning can increase the value of a piece of land tenfold. That is giving on a majestic scale. Why not tax the publicly generated increased value of their land 100 percent? That would be consistent with giving just compensation to property owners who lose out when government acts."