Random Thoughts on the Zoning Code

I could not attend last night's meeting on the proposed land use code, but I was able to watch most of it on television. Here are some thoughts:

• Most of the advocates of the code, from the Mayor, to the City Manager, to various citizens, spoke about the fact that this code is "what the community wants." It's interesting, though, that I have never, ever heard someone walk into a City Commission meeting and say "Please tell me what I cannot do on my own land." Nope, invariably those who testify are there to tell others what they cannot do on their own land. So, when people talk about "what the community wants," I think they're really saying that some people in the community want to tell others what to do.
• A citizen named Dave Campbell made an excellent point. He said that the City Commission is the balancing point between unelected city staff and the public at large. He's right, and frankly I think many on our Commission are too cozy with staff to carry out that function in an objective way.
• If you stop and think about it, isn't the whole idea of zoning a really presumptuous, if not arrogant concept? Some fellow works for the City of Great Falls as what is essentially a middle manager. And we believe he should be given the power to dictate every last thing that a person can or cannot do on his or her land? (Remember, the code says that if a use is not an allowable use under the code, it is prohibited.) But, it is really amazing that we allow a few elected and unelected individuals to completely undermine and usurp one of the primary foundations of our entire economic and social system, private property rights.
• Some of these people clearly become City Commission junkies; they just like to hear themselves speak. One fellow, Robert Alfred, sounded like a Hollywood c-lister who had just earned a low level Oscar. He's thanking people, and reflecting on his efforts on behalf of the code, reminiscing. Andy Warhol would have been proud.
• Mr. Alfred also commented on private property rights. He said the Founding Fathers were "great men," but they "also believed in slavery and other such things." Putting aside for a moment the question of what the "other such things" were, the clear import of what he is saying is that while there may have been a time for private property, that time has passed. Now, apparently, it is time for the collective to decide what you can do on your land. It takes a village to pass a zoning code.
• Speaking of the collective, most of the proponents of the code speak in terms of what is really a cloaked sort of pseudo-socialism. The group, the community, whatever you want to call it, should take precedence in telling the individuals what can be done on land. As the rights of ownership are usurped by the community, you can only wonder what other rights these people, who obviously believe they are smarter than us, believe they should be allowed to restrict in their own interests.
• My favorite line was when another Mensa candidate who loves to hear herself speak, Gloria Smith, said that if she owned a lot in Belleview Pallisades, she would have "sued someone, the city, someone," when the "monstrosity" that is the Holiday Inn Express was built. So, let me get this straight. If I buy a piece of land, and I want to put a building on it, I have to go to every landowner in the vicinity and get their approval? Do these people even think about what they are saying? Do they understand that they are advocating communism? Or are they just freakin' busybodies who like to hear themselves talk on public access TV ('cause you can bet every one of 'em watches the replay!)?
• Gloria Smith was also concerned that we protect the "entrances to the city" from the casino signs. She's right, instead of casino signs, I think we should make sure newcomers to the city are greeted by...a prison! Oh, wait...

The fun continues...