--- In [email protected], Tim Gamble <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Here is my first question regarding Libertarianism. I welcome all comments, > corrections, etc. I am still learning after all... > > My understanding is that the need for zoning laws is rejected by the > Libertarians. The Libertarian position is that private property rights rule, > that people should be allowed to use their private property in whatever way > they see fit without government interference or regulation. > > I agree with this in theory, but in practical reality I see the need for > limited zoning laws. Here is why: In 1989 my Grandparents moved to small > home in a nice, middle class neighborhood in SC. This was in a rural county > without zoning laws. A few months later, the home across the street from my > Grandparents was purchased by a gentleman who did business out of his home > doing repairs on kitchen appliances (stoves, dishwashers, etc.). Over the > course of the next two years, the gentleman filled up his yard with used > stoves, dishwashers and so forth. He also did no lawn care, allowing the > weeds to take over. This created an eyesore in the middle of this otherwise > nice neighborhood. Repeated attempts by my grandparents and other neighbors > to get this gentleman to clean up his yard were to no avail. He simply said > that it was his property and he could do whatever he wanted to on it. > > Now, it was his property but his use of it did effect his neighbors in > several ways: 1- It created an eyesore in the neighborhood. My Grandparents > could not look out their front window or step out onto their front porch > without being forced to take in the unpleasant view of a junkyard. 2- > Property values were affected in this neighborhood. Most people don't want > to live near a junkyard, making nearby houses harder to sell. 3- This was a > health hazard. The junkyard was a breeding ground for mosquitoes and vermin. > > My question is how, in the absence of zoning laws and such, would this > situation be handled in a Libertarian society? > > Thanks! > > -- > Tim Gamble > > Charlotte, NC > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I don't know if it is still true, but Houston, TX didn't have any zoning laws twenty something years ago. I think it was deed restrictions that were used to keep residential sections intact. The result was similar to the effect of zoning laws but perhaps recognized property rights a little better. I doubt that zoning boards are always perfect paragons of impartial civic virtue. Could be that this method provided better protection for home owners who might not want that new gas station next door? Sometimes, the deed restrictions weren't in place and the gas station did go in next to someone's house. I'm sure that someone from Houston could shed more light. Other that passing through the airport, I don't think I've been to Houston since Karl Bray was the keynote speaker at a LP state convention back around 1974. Thanks, Bill ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12h8p5tsu/M=362329.6886306.7839369.3040540/D=groups/S=1705060682:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1122998987/A=2894321/R=0/SIG=11dvsfulr/*http://youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=1992 ">Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back!</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
