Roy Gothie, a planner for the Maryland State Highway Administration, argues that 'only a societal decision to redefine an individual's rights regarding property can restore [Chesapeake Bay].'
"Developers, industrialists, homeowners and farmers have long assumed that the core bundle of rights attached to a piece of property exists to benefit the property owners. This is not exactly the case. Property rights are creations of the state, designed to ensure a stable, civil society and a functioning economy. Thus, any property rights a land owner possesses exist mainly to serve the greater public good.
Historically, society's need for economic growth favored intensive, extractive use and privileged individual property owners by restricting others from interfering in the use of "their" land. This view failed to consider the almost unimaginable sensitivity and complexity of multiple ecosystems or to accurately value the future needs of society. The ecological disasters that resulted from this misconception can be observed across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
We must therefore redefine rights in property based upon current scientific and cultural valuations of ecosystem services."
FULL STORY: Redefining property rights
Federal Protection Proposed for Chesapeake Bay
Two Maryland lawmakers will introduce legislation to create the Chesapeake Bay National Recreation Area to protect the region’s important ecological and cultural resources.
Potential Routes for New Bridge Across the Chesapeake Winnowed From 14 to 3
The Maryland Transportation Authority has been studying the potential of a new bridge across the Chesapeake Bay, connecting Annapolis to Queen Anne's County to the East.
14 Potential Locations for a New Bridge Across the Chesapeake Bay
A long term plan to add an additional bridge connection across the Chesapeake Bay is underway in Maryland.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
Opinion: Make Buses More Like Sidewalks
Sidewalks are an intuitive, low-cost, and easily accessible mobility tool. Can local buses function in the same way?
How Cities Can Support Climate Adaptation
In the face of federal cuts to climate resilience funding, a panel at ULI’s Resilience Summit offered suggestions for maintaining managed retreat and other climate adaptation programs.
Transportation Research Centers Lose Key Federal Funding
The federal University Transportation Center program funds critical transportation research and innovation at 35 consortia of colleges and universities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions