Agenda
21: Section 2 – Conservation and Management of Resources for Development.
The
real estate development industry has slowly changed by the implementation of
United Nation policies and objectives.
Highlighted in blue are the Agenda 21 subsection titles of the UN document.
I have highlighted specific sections
in red to illustrate important UN policies
I have emphasized my comments in green for your consideration.
AGNEDA 21 TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
II. CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT
(Section 1 included
9.
Protection of the atmosphere
10.
Integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources
If, in the future,
human requirements are to be met in a sustainable manner, it is now essential
to resolve these conflicts and move towards more effective
and efficient use of land and its natural resources. Integrated physical and
land-use planning and management is an eminently practical way to achieve this.
By examining all uses of land in an integrated manner, it makes it possible to
minimize conflicts, to make the most efficient trade-offs and to link social
and economic development with environmental protection and enhancement, thus
helping to achieve the objectives of sustainable development.
Our local and state planning departments
have been changing their land use and land development codes for years and the
subtle changes are remarkable. Compare your current local zoning code to the
one adopted 20 years ago.
10.3
Opportunities to allocate land to different uses arise in the course of major
settlement or development projects or in a sequential fashion as lands become
available on the market. This in turn provides opportunities to support
traditional patterns of sustainable land management or to assign protected status for conservation of biological
diversity or critical ecological services.
10.4. A
number of techniques, frameworks and processes can be combined to facilitate an
integrated approach. They are the indispensable support for the planning and
management process, at the national and local level,
ecosystem or area levels and for the development of specific plans of action.
Many of its elements are already in place but need to be more widely applied,
further developed and strengthened. This programme area is concerned primarily
with providing a framework that will coordinate decision-making; the content
and operational functions are therefore not included here but are dealt with in
the relevant sectoral programmes of Agenda 21.
I have been advocate for
the housing industry for decades. I have always said that as housing goes so
goes the economy. Land development is changed at the local level. Little did I
know or realize that many local government initiatives started at the UN and
promoted through non-government organizations.
When the land
development business is going great, we fail to watch what government is doing
to the industry – simply no time. When the land development business is going
not so great, we fail to watch what government is doing to the industry ---
simply because many professionals leave the industry to make a living. We also
do not have a voice at the table! Join the Real Estate Development eAssociation
Group on LinkedIn.
Objectives
10.5. The broad objective is to facilitate allocation of land to
the uses that provide the greatest sustainable benefits and to promote the
transition to a sustainable and integrated management of land resources.
In doing so, environmental, social and economic issues should be taken into
consideration. Protected areas, private property rights, the rights of
indigenous people and their communities and other local communities and the
economic role of women in agriculture and rural development, among other
issues, should be taken into account. In more specific terms, the objectives
are as follows:
(a) To review and develop policies to support the best possible
use of land and the sustainable management of land resources, by not later than
1996;
(b) To
improve and strengthen planning, management and evaluation systems for land and
land resources, by not later than 2000;
(c) To strengthen institutions and coordinating mechanisms for
land and land resources, by not later than 1998;
(d) To create mechanisms to facilitate the active involvement and
participation of all concerned, particularly communities and people at the
local level, in decision-making on land use and management, by not later than
1996.
Citizen participation at
the local level:
1970’s non-existent
1980’s HOA’s and participation
at Planning Board hearings
1990’s Organized and politically engaged
(Not in my Backyard)
2000’s Minority
rule, environmental activism, public input required (Citizens against
really everything)
2010’s Time will
tell but what has changed in the politica arena that would make our ability to
develop land any easier???
My
prediction: government will tell us that our land is not our land but land to be used for the good of the
community; collectively designed but privately developed.
11.
Combating deforestation
12.
Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification and drought 13. Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain development
14. Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development
14.45. Governments at
the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and
regional organizations, should:
a. Develop and
implement programmes to remove and resolve the physical, social and
economic causes of
land degradation, such as land tenure,
appropriate trading systemsand agricultural pricing structures, which lead to inappropriate land-use management;
LAND TENURE??? I am guessing this means
that if you own property (how long is your ownership) but do not take care of
it the way they think you should, your land will be taken away from you
or you will be fined. Local zoning enforcement agencies police private
properties.
Is this happening NOW?
Yes…….it is called eminent domain and regulatory taking. By layering
regulations upon regulations from local, regional, state, and federal
governments, many properties are being restricted and regulated inutility.
14.93. The objectives
of this programme area are:
a. Not later than the year 2000, to initiate and encourage a
process of environmentallysound energy transition in rural communities, from unsustainable energy sources, to
structured and diversified energy sources by making available alternative new and
renewable sources of energy;
President Obama issued Executive Order
#13575 on June 9,
2011.
This executive order established THE WHITE HOUSE RURAL COUNCIL and in part:
Executive Order
By the authority vested
in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America and in order to enhance Federal engagement with rural communities: (d) identify and facilitate rural economic opportunities
associated with energy development, outdoor recreation, and other
conservation related activities.
14.99. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of
the relevant international and regional organizations, should enhance public
awareness of rural energy problems, stressing the economic and environmental
advantages of renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy sources has been elevated
into our mainstream thought process every recession starting when we had to
wait in line to get a gallon of gas. Not one President in the past 40 years has
developed a comprehensive energy policy that includes nuclear, natural gas, oil,
coal, wind, solar, etc. Why are our gas prices staying above $3.50 per gallon?
It is painful to fill up your car just to travel to and from work! Are we
seeing a new norm? Why? Is this just another way to market “economic and
environmental advantages of renewable energy sources”?
15.
Conservation of biological diversity
j. Promote environmentally sound and sustainable development in
areas adjacent to protected
areas with a view to furthering protection of these areas;
True or Untrue?
We have to save wetlands but in some states,
we also have to add a buffer to the wetland line
Does your local government have their own
community flood plain line which is over and above the FEMA flood plain?
There are endangered plants and animals and
we have to save habitats but in some states we have to provide an additional
buffer.
There are buffers along streams.
How about in land areas protected by state
regulations, the land use is controlled and the zoning bulk requirements
changed to limit development within the special area.
If you are reading this blog, please post
your local regulation which illustrates how government is taking land off the
market ADJACENT to protected areas.
16.
Environmentally sound management of biotechnology
17.
Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and
semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and
development of their living resources 18. Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources
19. Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, including prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products
20. Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, in hazardous wastes
21. Environmentally sound management of solid wastes and sewage-related issues
22. Safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes
If you make the time and do your own research, you will quickly realize that the federal government has created council’s and charged departments in the implementation of Agenda 21 goals and objectives.
As an
example the Council on Environmental Quality, First Annual Report in 1970 issued
the following statement:
"We are
coming to realize that our land is finite ....We must accept the idea
that none of us has a right to abuse the land, and ... society as a
whole has a legitimate interest in
proper land use."
Now
fast forward to our current administration:
The Council on Environmental Quality is still in existence!
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) coordinates Federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives. CEQ was established within the Executive Office of the President by Congress as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and additional responsibilities were provided by the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970.
Constitution of the United States:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment XIV
All persons born or naturalized in
the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the
United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of
the United States; nor
shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law;
Without
a question, government’s protection of the environment has taken regulations
and the interpretation of those regulations to another level.
We have
let government use the environment to dictate our development patterns.
We have
let government swing the pendulum away from our basic right of land ownership
to consensus design under the banner headline – sustainable development.
In my
opinion, we are all for sustainable development but not the way we are heading.
Real estate development has not always been an approach of not what you can do
but what you can’t do. Government staff takes local politics and national
initiatives and interprets but with restriction as a goal rather than
flexibility.
Did YOU
KNOW?
ENERGY EFFICIENT MORTGAGE
HUD’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Home Owner Guide - THE ENERGY EFFICIENT MORTGAGE
means comfort and savings. When you are buying, selling, refinancing, or
remodeling your home, you can increase your comfort and actually save money by
using the Energy
Efficient Mortgage (EEM). It is easy to use, federally
recognized, and can be applied to most home mortgages.
When the home has been built or retrofitted in conformance with
the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards for 2000 or later,
then the lender may
"stretch" the borrower's qualifying ratios.
LOCATION EFFICIENT MORTGAGE
Seattle, WA - Location Efficient Mortgage Program
“The City
is partnering with Continental Bank and Fannie Mae to establish a Location
Efficient Mortgage program. This program will permit potential condominium and
other home buyers purchasing within
walking distance of a station area to qualify for a larger mortgage than they
would otherwise be eligible. Since these buyers may have
lower or no car payments or transportation-related expenses, they are able to
devote a larger percentage of their income to a mortgage (because of their homes’
proximity to transit).”
From the
website of The Partnership for Sustainable Communities – “As the White House
and Congress seek to reduce energy consumption and fight global warming,
they’re turning to location-efficient
mortgages as a way to coax consumers and the housing industry to make
sustainable choices.”
The level
of funding, number of organizations, and decades of advocacy already in motion promoting
the policies of Agenda 21 are astounding. It is only a matter of time that the
ratings used to evaluate energy and location efficient mortgages are used to
approve or deny a real estate development project.
Next Week:
Agenda
21 Section 3. Strengthening the
Role of Major Groups
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