July 23, 2008
The future of the Twin Shields Golf Course in Dunkirk appears in doubt. It may close and be replaced by a 51 home subdivision.
The owners have already submitted a subdivision application. It is expected to be presented to the Calvert County Planning Commission by this autumn providing the initial official steps to close what has been a recreation institution for nearly 40 years.
Still to be resolved are issues such as environmental data. Additionally, the owners may need to purchase about 200 Transferable Development Rights (TDR) necessary to the county requirement of 5 TDRs for each additional lot totaling about $1.6 Million.
As property owners, Karen and Diane Shields are well within their rights to make this business decision. The affect upon the community besides the obvious loss of a business, jobs and increase number of housing is not yet fully described.
Dunkirk Area Concerned Citizens Association (DACCA) has previously advised developers of the critical need to quickly inform next door neighbors who would be most affected as a needed remedy to misperceptions. In 2007, Twin Shields sent a letter to their membership advising them of work during the spring 2007, unrelated to the maintenance of the golf course.
In part, the owners described their land as having more value when utilized for real estate development than as a golf course.
During this past year, significant planning was underway which has now matured to where engagement with the county planning staff has begun.
When will the closing occur and housing construction begun? Due to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) which guides subdivision development in concert with the capacity of the local schools to handle the population increase, it could take up to 7 years or more.
In the meantime, Twin Shields has every intention to continue as a golf course. This course was built by Karen and Diane’s father and his twin brother, hence the name Twin Shields.
Evan Slaughenhoupt
www.daccamd.com
President, DACCA
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Year 2008 -- Affordable Housing
The generally accepted definition of affordable housing consists of a household paying no more than 30 percent of its annual gross income on housing. Housing costs considered in this guideline generally include taxes and insurance for owners, and usually include utility costs.
When the monthly carrying costs of a home exceed 30–35% of household income, then the housing is considered unaffordable for that household.
Another method of studying affordability looks at the regular hourly wage of full-time workers who are paid only the minimum wage (as set by their local, regional, or national government). An ideal is that a full-time worker will be able to afford at least a small apartment in the area that he or she works in. Affordable Housing does not imply homeownership.
Using that definition, a librarian in Prince Frederick worked out some numbers for Calvert County. The minimum wage in Maryland in July 2009, will be $7.25/hour. An individual working full-time making only minimum wage and spending 35% of their income on housing could afford $440/month. In July 2008, the cheapest room (one room in a house) listed in Southern Maryland (somd.com) is $550...with none of those advertised in Calvert County.
The cheapest apartment in Calvert that was listed was $595 excluding utilities. Working full time (40 hours/week) and part time (20 hours/week) would then make it affordable; something not unheard of by those who did such and then also went to night school part time.
Yet, is the purpose of minimum wage to afford housing for today or just when the country is in a Great Depression type economy?
According to Nicole Andrade, Human Resource Advisory Department of the Labor Law Center (http://blog.laborlawcenter.com/2006/09/15/purpose-of-minimum-wage/) posted on Friday, September 15th, 2006, “The purpose of the minimum wage is to provide a base pay rate for employees. That base pay rate is considered to be a fair for the work that the employee agrees to. While many employees choose to pay their employees more than the minimum wage, the purpose of the minimum wage is to protect all employees from any alterations in the economy.
The minimum wage was first developed in the U.S. in 1933... The country needed to find a way to help employees afford food and housing, even when their work was hard to find. The purpose of the minimum wage was to ensure that all employees were able to afford the basic necessities in the bad Great Depression economy.
Over the years, the base rate for the minimum wage has varied. In 1968, the minimum wage was higher than it has even been. Since 1979, however, the minimum wage has been slowly decreasing. While people generally view the minimum wage as helpful to employees, some economists believe that, despite the purpose of the minimum wage, the minimum wage is ultimately hard on the economy.
In the Clinton administration, it was decided that in addition to a national minimum wage rate, each state could adopt its own minimum wage rate. Some states also gave localities within each states that right to decide their own minimum wages.
When a locality decides its own wage, the purpose of the wage may change. For example, the purpose of the minimum wage in Santa Fe is to provide a living wage for all employees, while the purpose of the minimum wage in other localities and states is simply to ensure that all employees receive fair pay for their work."
The amount one makes (Income) compared to their wants (Desire) and ability equals Reality.
If one leaves high school or college and expects to immediately buy a home comparable to the one they lived in with their parents, while possible, is mostly unrealistic.
Not everybody can afford to live in Beverly Hills, California; Manhattan, New York; nor Calvert County; to think otherwise is unrealistic.
One can increase their income by remaining in the workforce, but increases are not automatic. Individual responsibility includes making proper choices and giving up some things to allow for other things. Life is full of trade-offs. The decisions affect income and the ability to afford wants and desires.
Wants and desires change over time. What one simply had to have when young is not as important when older.
There is nothing in the existing Planning & Zoning ordinances of Calvert County that prevents the construction of affordable housing.
Free markets (supply and demand) determine the price of housing.
The economy of the United States provides an environment where one can buy a modest “starter home.” Over time with resale and potentially moving to other areas, one accumulates wealth (not a negative term). That accumulation of wealth and assets allows one to afford more expensive homes and an improved life style.
It is a fact of life that some who are in financial straits put themselves there by chosing unwisely; ignored education and spent opportunity. They were not simply unlucky, but made bad decisions.
However, there are those truly handicapped or otherwise medically challenged where a compassionate community of family, churches, and charities, with some assistance from the government is warranted.
A partnership among Builders/Developers, Real Estate, County, and Individuals can work together and reduce the cost of housing, but it is unrealistic to think one can buy a million dollar home for a dime.
When the monthly carrying costs of a home exceed 30–35% of household income, then the housing is considered unaffordable for that household.
Another method of studying affordability looks at the regular hourly wage of full-time workers who are paid only the minimum wage (as set by their local, regional, or national government). An ideal is that a full-time worker will be able to afford at least a small apartment in the area that he or she works in. Affordable Housing does not imply homeownership.
Using that definition, a librarian in Prince Frederick worked out some numbers for Calvert County. The minimum wage in Maryland in July 2009, will be $7.25/hour. An individual working full-time making only minimum wage and spending 35% of their income on housing could afford $440/month. In July 2008, the cheapest room (one room in a house) listed in Southern Maryland (somd.com) is $550...with none of those advertised in Calvert County.
The cheapest apartment in Calvert that was listed was $595 excluding utilities. Working full time (40 hours/week) and part time (20 hours/week) would then make it affordable; something not unheard of by those who did such and then also went to night school part time.
Yet, is the purpose of minimum wage to afford housing for today or just when the country is in a Great Depression type economy?
According to Nicole Andrade, Human Resource Advisory Department of the Labor Law Center (http://blog.laborlawcenter.com/2006/09/15/purpose-of-minimum-wage/) posted on Friday, September 15th, 2006, “The purpose of the minimum wage is to provide a base pay rate for employees. That base pay rate is considered to be a fair for the work that the employee agrees to. While many employees choose to pay their employees more than the minimum wage, the purpose of the minimum wage is to protect all employees from any alterations in the economy.
The minimum wage was first developed in the U.S. in 1933... The country needed to find a way to help employees afford food and housing, even when their work was hard to find. The purpose of the minimum wage was to ensure that all employees were able to afford the basic necessities in the bad Great Depression economy.
Over the years, the base rate for the minimum wage has varied. In 1968, the minimum wage was higher than it has even been. Since 1979, however, the minimum wage has been slowly decreasing. While people generally view the minimum wage as helpful to employees, some economists believe that, despite the purpose of the minimum wage, the minimum wage is ultimately hard on the economy.
In the Clinton administration, it was decided that in addition to a national minimum wage rate, each state could adopt its own minimum wage rate. Some states also gave localities within each states that right to decide their own minimum wages.
When a locality decides its own wage, the purpose of the wage may change. For example, the purpose of the minimum wage in Santa Fe is to provide a living wage for all employees, while the purpose of the minimum wage in other localities and states is simply to ensure that all employees receive fair pay for their work."
The amount one makes (Income) compared to their wants (Desire) and ability equals Reality.
If one leaves high school or college and expects to immediately buy a home comparable to the one they lived in with their parents, while possible, is mostly unrealistic.
Not everybody can afford to live in Beverly Hills, California; Manhattan, New York; nor Calvert County; to think otherwise is unrealistic.
One can increase their income by remaining in the workforce, but increases are not automatic. Individual responsibility includes making proper choices and giving up some things to allow for other things. Life is full of trade-offs. The decisions affect income and the ability to afford wants and desires.
Wants and desires change over time. What one simply had to have when young is not as important when older.
There is nothing in the existing Planning & Zoning ordinances of Calvert County that prevents the construction of affordable housing.
Free markets (supply and demand) determine the price of housing.
The economy of the United States provides an environment where one can buy a modest “starter home.” Over time with resale and potentially moving to other areas, one accumulates wealth (not a negative term). That accumulation of wealth and assets allows one to afford more expensive homes and an improved life style.
It is a fact of life that some who are in financial straits put themselves there by chosing unwisely; ignored education and spent opportunity. They were not simply unlucky, but made bad decisions.
However, there are those truly handicapped or otherwise medically challenged where a compassionate community of family, churches, and charities, with some assistance from the government is warranted.
A partnership among Builders/Developers, Real Estate, County, and Individuals can work together and reduce the cost of housing, but it is unrealistic to think one can buy a million dollar home for a dime.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
