Category Archives: Land Use

The Obamacare of Real Estate

Posted on March 27, 2014 by matt ohern

Top Senate Banking Committee members released plans this week to wind down mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and replace them with a complicated apparatus disturbingly similar to Obamacare. While the proposal by Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD), the chairman, … Continue reading →

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Taking the Bogey Out of Government-Run Golf

Posted on February 13, 2014 by matt ohern

How many golf courses does the Commonwealth of Virginia own? No, that is not a ‘how many people does it take to screw in a light bulb’ question. Owning and operating golf courses is not a core government function. It … Continue reading →

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Unnoticed Private Property Victory

Posted on July 10, 2013 by matt ohern

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 25, 2013, said “Extortionate demands for property in the land use permitting context run afoul of the (Constitution’s) Takings Clause not because they take property but because they impermissibly burden the right not to … Continue reading →

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Zoning Out on Property Rights

Posted on February 21, 2013 by matt ohern

A little-noticed vote in Richmond last week shows the difficulty of keeping government within reasonable bounds when a significant private-sector player, allied with officialdom, seems to prefer the status quo. A bill to make life easier for farmers with small commercial sidelines … Continue reading →

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Smart Growth for Conservatives (Part 3 of 3)

Posted on July 12, 2012 by matt ohern

First of all, they’re monopolies, which are not known for their dedication to cost control or public service. Second, they’re government-owned monopolies, which means that critical decisions on routes and fares are driven by politics, not economics. That’s inefficiency squared. … Continue reading →

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