DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

AS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, I PLEDGE TO BE OPEN AND HONEST WITH MY VIEWS.  

 My opinions are ALWAYS subject to change in light of new information or strong public support of a persuasive factual argument, but not in response to changing political winds. NO decision will please everyone, but my rationale will always be clear.

Town Center development and Town Center Update Team (TCUT) P & Z Review

To me, trees and green space are what makes our City special. 

• My personal Priority 1 for ALL development in Wildwood will always be to minimize aesthetic and environmental impacts. 
• Higher-density development for Town Center was always part of the founding vision. 
• When TCUT finishes the P & Z policy review, I support taking a hard look at that vision. 

Use of Planned Residential Developments (PRD)  

I'm very interested in this complex issue, and I'll continue to monitor it closely. In short:

1. PRD’s are useful for managing difficult terrain like ours, and 
2. I don’t think it’s wise to take them from the toolbox.
3. I’ll oppose any PRD that is not clearly aesthetically and environmentally beneficial. 
4. If any PRD’s are advanced, I encourage Ward 6 neighbors to see me about concerns.

Development subsidies, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) 

In my opinion, TIF’s and other Development Tax Incentives are generally wasteful and unproductive. 

• I’m very, very unlikely to support any such incentive except in the event, also very unlikely, that it would provide a crystal clear long-term benefit to our community.
• As I currently understand Wildwood policy, the City works with developers to define infrastructure needs, but does not provide tax incentives for residential development.