Small Town Fighting Teardown-McMansion Trend

"The city is working to tighten zoning ordinances to prevent oversize or 'Bigfoot' houses from invading existing neighborhoods. The phenomenon of developers tearing down older houses in order to build bigger trophy homes that loom over neighboring residences has yet to come to Howell. But officials say the community, with its attractive older neighborhoods, schools and parks, is vulnerable to the practice. 'Bigfoot development happens when a community becomes more desirable. And the city of Howell is beginning to be mentioned in the same breath as Plymouth and Northville,' said Richard Carlisle, of Carlisle/Wortman Associates Inc., which serves as a planning consultant for the city."

Thanks to Richard Layman