Edward Thompson Jr.: Directing growth actually helps cities grow – smartly

Re “Urban limit sent to ballot” (Page A1, Nov. 6): The proposed urban growth boundary for Modesto is a good idea that American Farmland Trust heartily endorses.

There are quite a few cities in California that have already adopted UGBs to conserve farmland while encouraging growth that costs cities less to service. No city that we are aware of has suffered as a result. Most are thriving precisely because the rules are clear about where development should occur, so approval takes less time and costs less money, where farming should continue to be the mainstay of the local economy.

As Jake Wenger pointed out, it is the absence of such certainty that discourages farmers from selling conservation easements to protect their land in perpetuity. And it certainly doesn’t give residents and voters confidence about the future of their community if every parcel of land around the city is up for grabs.

This story was originally published November 18, 2014 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Edward Thompson Jr.: Directing growth actually helps cities grow – smartly."