Did Lax Zoning Lead to Texas Plant Explosion Carnage?

When the West Fertilizer Co plant exploded last week in Texas, it severely damaged homes and schools located in close proximity to the property, and killed dozens of people. Markos Moulitsas blames lax zoning standards for putting lives at risk.

1 minute read

April 23, 2013, 7:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"It's tragic enough that maybe three dozen were killed because of the gross negligence of the owners of West Fertilizer Co in West, Texas," writes Moulitsas. "But compounding the carnage, it seems as if half the town was leveled including several schools and houses five blocks from the plant. But wait, there were houses five blocks from a fertilizer plant?"

"There is a reason zoning laws exist. But Texas being Texas, apparently the 'freedom' to set up shop next to a bomb trumps everything else—including the lives and properties of far too many in West."

Friday, April 19, 2013 in Daily Kos

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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