I can tell you specifically as an existing landowner in an area with a very healthy ecological preservation culture and strict conservation regulations, that we pay A LOT more on a continuing basis to maintain this, and it benefits our values a lot less than aggressive construction.
First, the "public services" you mention? Yes, we pay more for those, because they are maintained at a high level. Everything from good roads and maintenance, good levels of service, conservation commission with a full-time employees in a tiny town, etc. Those public services cost money, and we are the only ones who foot the bill. (Not complaining, but don't act as if you are free or paid for by the state, county, etc.).
On top of that, everything is also more expensive. Merely getting an exception to a rule to change where the front walk comes from the driveway to the front door required a $2000 engineering plan and $350 application fee for board approval (and that was to get a de minimus exception so we didn't need to get a $9000 survey) because a few feet of the stairs was within a 100' wetland buffer zone. We'll also have to take extra steps & costs during the construction to prevent any impact on the wetlands.
There are also town taxpayer funds created to purchase open lands for wild area and recreational preservation. Again, all maintained OVER TIME by the town;s residents, and no one else.
The original purchase price is meaningless; they are paying to build a better environment the entire time.
It has zero to do with "pulling up the ladder", and everything to do with not wanting to do things like putting a 200-unit condo development on top of a steep wetland species harboring endangered species, multiplying traffic on rural roads by a factor of 20+, adding unpaid burdens to local public services, etc.
I can tell you specifically as an existing landowner in an area with a very healthy ecological preservation culture and strict conservation regulations, that we pay A LOT more on a continuing basis to maintain this, and it benefits our values a lot less than aggressive construction.
First, the "public services" you mention? Yes, we pay more for those, because they are maintained at a high level. Everything from good roads and maintenance, good levels of service, conservation commission with a full-time employees in a tiny town, etc. Those public services cost money, and we are the only ones who foot the bill. (Not complaining, but don't act as if you are free or paid for by the state, county, etc.).
On top of that, everything is also more expensive. Merely getting an exception to a rule to change where the front walk comes from the driveway to the front door required a $2000 engineering plan and $350 application fee for board approval (and that was to get a de minimus exception so we didn't need to get a $9000 survey) because a few feet of the stairs was within a 100' wetland buffer zone. We'll also have to take extra steps & costs during the construction to prevent any impact on the wetlands.
There are also town taxpayer funds created to purchase open lands for wild area and recreational preservation. Again, all maintained OVER TIME by the town;s residents, and no one else.
The original purchase price is meaningless; they are paying to build a better environment the entire time.
It has zero to do with "pulling up the ladder", and everything to do with not wanting to do things like putting a 200-unit condo development on top of a steep wetland species harboring endangered species, multiplying traffic on rural roads by a factor of 20+, adding unpaid burdens to local public services, etc.