Is It Time to Stop Building Suburbs?

Summary

The video script addresses the impact of suburban development on the environment and community character. It highlights the unsustainable economic model of traditional suburban sprawl, which requires extensive infrastructure with long-term costs often not covered by tax revenue. The script advocates for smarter development practices that increase density through varied housing types, mixed-use spaces, and pedestrian-friendly designs. It also discusses the historical context of suburban planning and the need for responsible leadership in local government to ensure financially sustainable and environmentally conscious growth.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The current housing development in the US, particularly in suburban areas, is leading to environmental and economic concerns due to its sprawling nature.
• 🌳 The rural community of Old Miakka, Florida, is under threat from suburban development that disregards the area's natural beauty and historic value.
• 🚧 Suburban development often requires extensive infrastructure like roads and utilities, which can take decades for the generated tax revenue to cover, leading to financial strain on local governments.
• 💡 Alternative suburban development models exist that increase density while preserving a suburban feel, such as building homes with alleyways for garages and driveways.
• 🏡 Smaller, more diverse housing options like duplexes, cottage courts, and townhouses can accommodate more people on the same land, reducing the need for further land development.
• 🚶‍♂️ Sustainable suburban living can be achieved through a mix of housing types, mixed-use developments, and pedestrian connectivity, enhancing community and reducing reliance on cars.
• 🏢 Mixed-use developments that integrate residential, commercial, and recreational spaces can create walkable communities, reducing the need for additional infrastructure.
• 🌱 Preserving open rural land and preventing overdevelopment is crucial for maintaining natural habitats and agricultural areas, which is a challenge faced by many communities.
• 💼 The economic model of suburban development often shifts long-term costs to local governments, which must maintain infrastructure without sufficient tax revenue from residents.
• 🗳️ Community involvement and informed voting are essential for advocating for responsible development practices that consider long-term environmental and financial sustainability.

Q & A

What is the main concern regarding the current suburban development pattern in the US?

The main concern is that the current pattern of suburban development, characterized by single-family homes with yards and driveways, is economically unsustainable due to the high costs of infrastructure and the time it takes for tax revenue from these homes to cover those costs. This pattern also leads to the destruction of natural landscapes and rural areas, which is irreversible in some cases.

Why is the community of Old Miakka in Florida worried about its future?

The community of Old Miakka is worried because the county has started allowing suburban development to continue past the boundary line that was meant to preserve the rural character of the area. This new development threatens the natural environment, wildlife, and the historic rural community that residents value.

What is the economic illusion associated with suburban development mentioned in the script?

The economic illusion refers to the fact that the infrastructure required for suburban developments, such as roads, water, and sewer systems, is costly to build and maintain. Often, it takes several decades for the tax revenue generated by these houses to cover the initial costs, and the infrastructure may need repairs or replacement before that revenue is realized.

How does urban development differ from suburban development in terms of tax revenue generation?

Urban development can generate much more tax revenue from the same amount of land compared to suburban development. This is because urban areas have higher-density housing and more businesses, which contribute more to tax revenues that can be used to maintain infrastructure.

What alternative suburban development approach is suggested in the script to increase financial sustainability?

The script suggests building homes in a way that increases density while maintaining a suburban feel. This can be achieved by changing the layout of how homes are built, such as placing garages behind houses on alleys, and by offering a variety of housing types, including smaller homes and multi-use developments. This approach can help preserve rural land and generate more tax revenue to cover infrastructure costs.

What are the three key aspects of more sustainable suburban living mentioned in the script?

The three key aspects of more sustainable suburban living are a variety of housing types, mixed-use development, and pedestrian connectivity. These aspects, when combined, can create walkable, interconnected communities that are more financially sustainable and better serve the needs of residents.

How does the script illustrate the impact of different development approaches on land use and infrastructure costs?

The script uses a hypothetical scenario with 1,000 people moving to a city and compares two development approaches. The traditional approach results in the need for more land, roads, and utilities, while a more integrated approach with mixed-use, varied housing types, and pedestrian connectivity can house all 1,000 people on the same land without needing to expand, thus saving land and reducing infrastructure costs.

What is the significance of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the context of the script?

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are significant because they allow for increased housing density on already developed land without the need for extensive new infrastructure. They can be created by converting existing spaces like garages or by building small cottages in backyards, providing more housing options and potentially reducing pressure on rural land for development.

Why is the original plan for expanding suburbs in Sarasota County considered more sustainable?

The original plan for expanding suburbs in Sarasota County is considered more sustainable because it aimed to create small villages with mixed-use development and maintain rural open space around them. This approach was intended to be environmentally friendly, economically self-sufficient, and not to stress municipal budgets, in contrast to the generic suburban sprawl that followed.

What role does local government play in determining the future of suburban development according to the script?

Local government plays a crucial role in determining the future of suburban development by making land-use decisions, zoning regulations, and permitting new developments. The script emphasizes the need for leadership that values smart and responsible development to ensure financial sustainability and environmental preservation.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Impacts of Suburban Development

This paragraph discusses the implications of new housing construction in the US, particularly how it affects different living environments. It introduces the story of Becky Ayesh from Old Miakka, Florida, who is concerned about the encroachment of suburban development into her rural community. The county's decision to allow development beyond the designated boundary line threatens the preservation of rural land. The paragraph emphasizes the need for development that is compatible with the existing character of an area, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that disregards the community's unique attributes.

05:04

🚗 Economic Illusion of Suburban Sprawl

The second paragraph delves into the economic fallacy behind the widespread suburban development model. It points out that the infrastructure required for such developments, including roads and utilities, is costly to build and maintain, and often takes decades for the generated tax revenue to cover these costs. In contrast, urban areas can generate more tax revenue from the same land area, making suburban development less financially sustainable. The paragraph also introduces alternative development models that increase density without compromising the suburban feel, such as alley-loaded housing and smaller homes, which can better utilize space and generate more tax revenue.

10:05

🌿 Sustainable Suburban Living

This paragraph explores the concept of sustainable suburban living by emphasizing the importance of three key aspects: a variety of housing types, mixed-use development, and pedestrian connectivity. It contrasts poorly planned developments that lack these elements with those that integrate them, creating more livable and interconnected communities. The discussion also touches on the preference of many people for single-family homes and the need to provide a range of housing options to meet different needs. The paragraph suggests that by rethinking development strategies, suburbs can grow while preserving land, offering affordable housing, and being financially sustainable for local governments.

15:05

🏘️ Rethinking Suburban Expansion

The fourth paragraph discusses the history of suburban development in Sarasota and the original plans for sustainable expansion that were eventually ignored in favor of generic suburban sprawl. It highlights the importance of local government decisions in shaping land use and the need for leadership that values smart and responsible development. The paragraph also addresses the role of the community in influencing these decisions through voting and advocating for change. It suggests that by reevaluating development practices and focusing on infill development and accessory dwelling units, suburbs can grow in a way that is more financially and environmentally sustainable.

Keywords

💡Housing Shortage

Housing shortage refers to a situation where the demand for housing exceeds the supply, leading to a lack of available housing. In the video, this term is used to set the context for the discussion on new housing developments. The script mentions that despite the shortage, the way new homes are being built could negatively impact the quality of life for people in various living environments, suggesting that the issue is not just about quantity but also about the sustainability and compatibility of new housing with existing communities.

💡Urban Development

Urban development encompasses the process of expanding and constructing infrastructure, buildings, and housing in urban areas. The video script discusses the encroachment of suburban development into rural areas, which traditionally have been preserved. The concern is that this development could lead to the destruction of natural landscapes and the loss of unique rural character, as exemplified by the community of Old Miakka in Florida.

💡Suburban Sprawl

Suburban sprawl describes the expansion of suburban areas characterized by low-density, single-family homes with yards and driveways, often leading to the consumption of open land and rural areas. The script criticizes this style of development as economically unsustainable due to the high costs of infrastructure and the long time it takes for the generated tax revenue to cover these costs. It contrasts this with more compact and diverse suburban development models that could be more financially viable and land-efficient.

💡Economic Sustainability

Economic sustainability in the context of the video refers to the ability of an area to maintain its economic health and growth over time without depleting resources or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The script argues that traditional suburban development models are not economically sustainable because they require significant upfront investment in infrastructure that takes decades to pay off through tax revenue, potentially leading to long-term financial strain on local governments.

💡Mixed-Use Development

Mixed-use development is a type of urban planning that integrates residential, commercial, cultural, and sometimes industrial uses within a single area or building. The video script highlights mixed-use as a key aspect of more sustainable suburban living, where a variety of housing types are combined with amenities like shops, restaurants, and offices. This approach can increase density while maintaining a suburban feel and providing pedestrian connectivity, as opposed to isolated residential areas.

💡Pedestrian Connectivity

Pedestrian connectivity refers to the ease and safety with which people can walk or bike between different parts of a community. The video emphasizes the importance of designing developments with pedestrian connectivity in mind, allowing residents to easily access amenities like restaurants, parks, and schools without relying on cars. This concept is part of creating walkable, sustainable suburban communities that offer an alternative to car-dependent suburban sprawl.

💡Density

Density in the context of the video refers to the concentration of people or buildings in a given area. The script discusses increasing density as a means to preserve land and create more affordable housing options without compromising the suburban character. It challenges the notion that increasing density automatically leads to high-rise apartment buildings, suggesting that changes in home layout and design can also effectively increase density while maintaining a suburban feel.

💡Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, are secondary living spaces on a property, such as a small house in the backyard, a converted garage, or a bedroom added to a house. The video script mentions ADUs as a strategy for increasing housing density on already developed land without the need for extensive new infrastructure. This approach can help to alleviate housing shortages and provide more housing options without significantly altering the character of existing neighborhoods.

💡Zoning Restrictions

Zoning restrictions are land-use regulations that dictate how land in a particular area can be used. The video script discusses how traditional zoning often restricts the development of ADUs or other forms of dense housing, which can limit housing supply and contribute to housing shortages. It suggests that changing these restrictions can be a step towards more efficient and sustainable suburban development.

💡Smart Growth

Smart growth is a development approach that encourages efficient land use, sustainability, and the creation of walkable, inclusive communities. The video script advocates for smart growth principles in suburban development, such as building on already developed land, creating mixed-use spaces, and preserving open spaces. It contrasts this with the traditional suburban sprawl model, which is seen as economically and environmentally unsustainable.

Highlights

Huge plots of land are being cleared for new homes due to the housing shortage, which will impact everyone's way of living.

Becky Ayesh is concerned about the future of her rural community, Old Miakka, as suburban development encroaches.

The county's decision to allow suburban development past the boundary line threatens the preservation of rural land.

Growth isn't inherently bad, but developments must be compatible with the areas they're built in.

Suburban development often requires significant infrastructure investments that take decades to recoup through tax revenue.

Urban areas can generate more tax revenue from the same amount of land compared to suburban areas.

Rural areas require fewer services, making them more financially sustainable than suburban developments.

Suburban homes can be built in a way that increases density and preserves a suburban feel.

Changing the layout of homes can significantly impact space utilization and housing density.

Smaller homes and multi-use paths can provide safe and easy ways to walk or bike to mixed-use developments.

Three key aspects of sustainable suburban living are variety in housing types, mixed-use, and pedestrian connectivity.

Increasing housing density without diversifying land use can lead to isolated residential areas.

Many people want single-family houses but also desire walkability and access to amenities.

Housing options should include a variety of types to meet different needs, not just large single-family homes or generic apartments.

Rethinking land use can lead to more efficient, safe, and convenient suburban communities.

The original plan for expanding suburbs in Sarasota aimed to prevent overdevelopment and protect natural areas.

Developers often ignore sustainable development plans in favor of models that maximize their profits.

Local governments may face long-term costs for maintaining infrastructure that developers don't have to consider.

Building on already developed land or allowing accessory dwelling units can increase housing supply without extensive land clearing.

The right leadership and community values are crucial for smart and responsible suburban development.

Transcripts

Every day, all across the US, huge plots of land  are being cleared, and new homes are being built.  

With the current housing shortage, this should  be a good thing. But the way we build this new  

housing is going to have an impact on everyone's  way of living, whether you live in a city, suburb,  

or rural area over the next several  decades. And unless something changes,  

some places will be destroyed forever. So Spot's mother abandoned him. Usually,  

when sheep abandon their babies,  there's something wrong with them.  

But I always try to save them, no matter what. This is Becky Ayesh, and she lives in a rural  

community called Old Miakka, located in Sarasota  County, Florida. But she's worried for its future.  

The county had a boundary line in place to ensure  all urban and suburban development happens on  

this land, and all of the land on this side is  preserved as rural. However, the county recently  

started allowing suburban development to continue  past the line, including a massive new suburban  

development that will encroach into Old Miakka. Rather than try to celebrate the wonders of this  

historic rural community, instead they want  to pave us over and make us urban development. 

I asked her what that wonder  of her community looked like,  

so she showed me around this place is full of  nature, animals, and beauty. It's truly a complete  

contrast from the generic sprawl that's being  planned. And this itself is part of the issue. 

Growth isn't necessarily a bad thing. It brings  economic activity and new opportunities. But  

developments need to be compatible with  the areas where they're developing. 

And they haven't even tried To say, "Well, okay, let's sit down. What  

could we do that we could do a development that  would harmonize with this community, that would be  

part of the fabric of this community, that would  be part of the growing of this community?" No, no,  

they haven't done any of that. They said, "This  is what you're going to get. Too bad, so sad." 

And this exact same style of endless single-family  homes with yards and driveways is happening all  

over the country. But people like living in the  suburbs. Not everyone wants to live in a dense  

urban area, and not everyone wants to live in  the middle of nowhere. After all, they wouldn't  

exist if people didn't like living this way. So what's the answer here? Can these suburbs  

continue to grow while still preserving  land? And can they be done in a way that's  

affordable for people and financially  sustainable? Well, it's complicated. 

One of the biggest problems with this style of  suburban development is it's kind of an illusion.  

Not literally, but economically. The thing is,  all of these houses need roads, water, and sewer,  

and all of that infrastructure takes a lot of  money to build and maintain. A lot of times,  

it takes these houses several decades to bring  in enough tax revenue to cover the cost of the  

infrastructure. And that infrastructure  doesn't always last several decades,  

meaning more money is required to fix it. In  urban areas, they're able to generate much more  

tax revenue from the same amount of land. For example, these are two identical sized  

areas. One is in the suburbs, and the other  is in a city. They both have road, water,  

and sewer lines. But all of these homes and  businesses provide significantly more tax revenue  

to pay for it, while these homes provide much less  tax revenue. On the other hand, rural areas don't  

require many services. Many rural areas have  wells and septic tanks, eliminating the need  

for water and sewer services. And many rural  roads are much smaller. This problem is fairly  

unique to building suburban homes in this way. But this isn't the only way to build suburban  

homes. We can build homes in a way that's more  financially sustainable for local governments and  

can help preserve rural land by increasing density  while still keeping a very suburban feel. However,  

many people in the suburbs live there because it  isn't dense. But increasing density doesn't have  

to mean building a high-rise apartment  building. Sometimes just changing the  

layout of how homes are built can have a  huge impact on space. Take this street,  

for example. All of the houses on this side of the  street were built differently than the houses on  

this side of the street. Right away, you might  notice these houses have garages and driveways,  

and these ones don't—except they do, but they're  behind the house, built on an alley. This comes at  

the expense of a large backyard, although some  of these houses still do have a small outdoor  

space in the back. And they all have a front yard,  uninterrupted by driveways and cars. These are all  

still decently sized single-family homes too.  But this setup allows for double the amount of  

homes to be built compared to if they were built  like the houses on the other side of the street. 

Homes can be smaller too. This development is all  one and two-bedroom homes under 1,000 square feet  

for people who don't want or need a huge house.  Not only does this gently increase density,  

but these homes have a multi-use path that allows  for a safe and easy way to walk or bike to this  

mixed-use development. This development has  apartments, townhouses, restaurants, shops,  

offices, and recreation, and it's done with  small, safe streets. This development has  

three key aspects of more sustainable suburban  living: a variety of housing types, mixed-use,  

and pedestrian connectivity. It's important that  all three of these are taken into consideration  

for new development. For example, just increasing  housing density without diversifying how land  

can be used leads to large areas of isolated  residential use. This benefits hardly anyone. 

People looking for privacy and isolation end  up living right next to people, but people  

wanting amenities don't have any because they're  surrounded by residential development. Or in this  

development, there's both a variety of housing  with apartments and single-family homes,  

as well as stores and restaurants. But these  large roads and parking lots make it difficult  

and unsafe to walk or bike. These apartments  here are only 400 feet from this grocery store,  

but there's no connection through these  trees here, meaning you have to go all  

the way around if you wanted to walk. This was  not built with pedestrian connectivity in mind. 

Meanwhile, with developments like this  that integrate all three of these aspects,  

someone living in this apartment is easily able  to walk to any of these restaurants for dinner,  

and someone living in this townhouse can take  a short bike ride on the multi-use path over to  

this park. But this development isn't perfect.  While it's convenient for people living there,  

it's still fairly isolated. However, if this  development became more common, rather than the  

expanse of generic sprawl, it could create entire  communities interconnected in an efficient, safe,  

and convenient way. But do people even want that?  After all, these big, isolated subdivisions are  

incredibly common. But a lot of times, it isn't  what everybody wants; it's just what's available.  

Many people still want a single-family house but  don't want to worry about maintaining a lawn or  

want to be able to walk to a restaurant or just  want a small, simple house. But if that option  

doesn't exist for people, it forces them to choose  another option. This almost always boils down to  

two options, especially in the suburbs. Option one  is the traditional large single-family house, and  

option two is the generic apartment for rent. So  for those people that still want a house and they  

want to be a homeowner, option one is going to be  a better match for their needs, even if it means  

they have to maintain a lawn, drive everywhere,  and have more space than they really need. 

Imagine you're at an ice cream shop, and there  are only two items on the menu: a banana split and  

a single scoop cone. The cone might be fine for  some people, but some people want more than that,  

so they go for the banana split. Some love it,  but others might not have wanted that much and  

end up throwing some away. When you consider all  of the variables that are part of a banana split,  

this might seem like a bit of a waste  for someone who would have been fine with  

something else. But imagine the ice cream shop  started serving milkshakes. These are perfect  

for people who wanted more than the cone  but didn't need the entire banana split.  

And now not as many banana splits have  to be made. This is the same for housing. 

Just because you might want to live in a  single-family suburban home doesn't mean  

that building other housing types is going to take  away your single-family suburban home. Instead,  

it opens up more options for more people. For  some people, the status quo of American suburbs  

is all they're familiar with. Some people don't  realize what it would be like to be able to bike  

to a restaurant for dinner because they're only  used to being able to drive, and they think that  

walkability and density are a big city thing,  not a suburb thing. But it can be a suburb thing,  

and it's possible to have really nice, walkable  places in the suburbs. But we'd have to change how  

we build, and in the process, it would allow us  to grow the suburbs while preserving land, create  

more affordable housing options, and be more  financially sustainable for local governments. 

So let's pretend we have 1,000 people  moving to our city, and we have to build a  

suburban development on this piece of land. If we follow existing development designs  

currently being built here in Sarasota County, we  end up with a street network that looks like this,  

along with the required water retention  ponds that handle runoff in Florida. We  

start building traditional large single-family  homes and quickly fill up our land with houses.  

If we consider the average household size of 2.5  people in the US, this means we only have enough  

housing for 500 of the 1,000 people. So we have  to buy more land, build more roads and utilities,  

and build more houses. Now we've housed all  1,000 people, but these people have nowhere  

to shop or eat, no parks, and no schools. So  we need to either buy more land to build these  

things or all of these people will have to drive  to the existing places, creating more traffic on  

the existing roads. But if we change how  we build, it would be a different story. 

Instead, let's start with changing the layout of  our street network. Rather than winding streets  

optimized for isolation, let's instead optimize  for connectivity and public space. We'll start  

with this area and treat it as a town center,  building some mixed-use buildings. Buildings like  

these would provide places to shop, eat, work,  and live. Next, we can build different types  

of housing. This could be things like duplexes,  which have two dwellings per unit, cottage courts,  

which are small individual dwellings that share  a common space, townhouses, which are a row of  

dwellings in a larger building, apartments, and a  variety of detached single-family homes, including  

ones with front yards and garages in the back,  and some traditional larger ones with big yards  

and driveways. While the average household size  is 2.5 people, now that we have a wider variety  

of housing types, different-sized households  can choose a housing type that might be a better  

match for their needs. For example, a single  young adult might choose to live in a cottage,  

while a retired couple might choose to live in a  townhouse, and a family of four might choose to  

live in a big house with a backyard. Taking this  into consideration, we're able to redistribute  

our average household size by housing type, and  when we look at our entire development, we've  

managed to not only house all 1,000 people without  having to buy any additional land, but we've also  

made space for shops, restaurants, and offices. In fact, we still have some room to spare. We  

can use this space for a school, parks, public  pools, or more mixed-use. Since we didn't have  

to purchase more land, all of that additional  land purchased in the first example is able to  

remain untouched, whether that's natural  wildlife habitat or productive farmland.  

And the local government doesn't have to pay  for and maintain all of those additional roads  

and utilities that would have been built. This example uses 1,000 people and a small  

piece of land for the sake of simplicity to  show this concept. But when you apply the  

same concept to the scale of some of the massive  developments going in with several thousand acres,  

this can equate to huge differences in  terms of land saved. And keep in mind,  

this is still very much a suburban development.  Sure, it'd be possible to fit 10,000 people into  

the same amount of space and would be much more  efficient, but that would make this feel much  

more like a dense urban setting. And the reality  is many people don't want to live in that level of  

density. In this example, almost half of the  people living here would still be living in  

detached single-family homes. Everyone can still  own a car, with all of the homes having garages  

or dedicated parking spaces. But it would also be  easy to get around by walking or biking. And for  

those driving around a development like this, the  streets would be designed in a way to encourage  

slow speeds and be significantly safer than many  of the high-speed roads common in the suburbs. 

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it would still feel like the suburbs but  with a small-town feel. And it turns out,  

this kind of development was actually the original  plan for expanding the suburbs in Sarasota. When  

developers were looking to begin building on  rural land, the county put together a plan to  

prevent overdevelopment of generic suburban  sprawl and protect the character of these  

natural areas by creating these small villages  and maintaining the rural open space around them.

It was intended to be environmentally friendly,  

economically self-sufficient, it  wouldn't stress municipal budgets.

This is Cathy Antunes, a longtime  Sarasota activist and radio host.

Before developers could leverage themselves,  before we had automobiles, development was  

built always in a way where it was financially  sustainable immediately. And if you think about  

how did towns in the United States develop? They  had the town part, which was like a Main Street,  

a mixed-use, stores with apartments overhead, a  place where people come and gather and walk, go to  

restaurants. And then the rest was rural. It was  farmland and places where people work the land.

And this is what the plan was  trying to get back to. But as  

developers continued building,  the plan was essentially ignored.

It was completely gutted by our  county commission. They believed  

developers who fund their campaigns  that this wasn't economically viable,  

which is ridiculous. I mean, hundreds of  years, this is the model that's worked. 

But despite this, developers have  continued to build what they want to.

They don't want to change their development  model. Why should they? They can basically  

get the county commission to do what  they want. They make a lot of money,  

and people are buying it. But the community  winds up holding the bag on the long-term cost. 

The thing is, these developers don't have to  maintain this infrastructure over time. They  

can get their money and move on to the next new  development, leaving the local government stuck  

with tons of new infrastructure they'll have to  maintain. This might be fine right now since it's  

all brand new. But if local governments  allow development to continue like this,  

eventually, something will have to happen.  This could lead to a few different outcomes. 

First is that the infrastructure  begins to fall apart. 

Second is that budget cuts happen to  other vital aspects of running a city. 

Or finally is that taxes increase for residents  to pay for it. This is truly one of the only ways  

suburbs like this can exist and be financially  sustainable. In most suburbs built like this,  

people living in these developments aren't  being taxed enough to pay for the services  

required. Of course, nobody wants to pay  more taxes. But this is an economic reality  

if you continue to build more infrastructure. So what if we don't build more infrastructure  

in the first place? Instead, we can rethink  how we use the land where the infrastructure  

already exists. And it can be done in a way  that increases housing without completely  

changing the fabric of existing neighborhoods. This example in Sarasota built 357 units,  

primarily as townhouses and apartments, in a  spot previously occupied by an underutilized  

shopping center and an abandoned warehouse, all  close to downtown and right on a multi-use rail  

trail that runs through the county. Adding more  housing doesn't just have to be on big plots of  

land either. Many cities have begun allowing  accessory dwelling units or ADUs. These allow  

for more people to live on existing property by  adding something like a small backyard cottage,  

converting a garage, or converting part of an  existing house into an additional unit. Typically,  

this is illegal due to zoning restrictions that  only allow one single-family residence per lot.  

But those restrictions are changing in some  areas, increasing housing supply in a smart and  

efficient way. Sarasota County started allowing  ADUs a few years ago, allowing them to increase  

density on already developed land. However,  many neighborhoods are controlled by homeowners  

associations, which follow their own set of rules  and almost always don't allow ADUs. The more that  

is built like this, the less land that has to  be cleared for new development, and the less  

infrastructure that will have to be maintained by  the local government. And the county knows this.  

So why are they still allowing more development  that will end up draining their budget?

I mean, we need a different set of values  at the county commission, and honestly,  

that's not going to come from people who are  plucked to serve the needs of developers.  

We need homegrown candidates who are committed  to a good, prosperous, strong, financially sound  

community long term, not just in a few weeks. We  need a more educated electorate. A lot of people  

walk into that voting booth, and they think, like,  if you're for fiscally responsible candidates,  

people assume, I think that's changing, that  that meant the Republican Party. And Sarasota  

has a Republican Party majority very often.  Just because someone has an R by their name,  

they may be the last person that's  actually fiscally responsible. 

This is why it's so important to do research  on who you're voting for so you can vote for  

people who actually represent your interests. We need to really start and begin with valuing the  

importance of local government. If you care about  the environment, all of these land-use decisions,  

most of them are local. If you really want to  save the environment, you need to know what  

your city is doing and what your county is doing,  because that's where the rubber meets the road.

As suburban growth continues, both in  Sarasota County and all over the country,  

it's crucial that we have the right leadership  that shares the value of smart and responsible  

development. And when that happens, we  can change what the American suburbs  

look like. This goes so much further than just  housing, too. It will affect how we build roads,  

our sense of community, convenience,  and more—all of which you can learn  

about in this next video. And be sure to  subscribe to see more videos like this.