“We’ve Got a Lot of Great People Who Live in Houses With Carports”
The Maryland Heights Planning and Zoning Commission sounds just a little bit defensive about the city’s ban on new carports:
“We’re not saying anything against anyone who lives in a house with a carport,” said Chuck Caverly, vice chairman of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which recommended the change.
Is Maryland Heights targeting carports because they’re a danger to public peace or safety? No, some people just don’t think they look very nice.
Maryland Heights is not achieving an aesthetic ideal with this new law, either. Existing carports are grandfathered in, so people will continue to see them in the city. The law will prevent some people from building the new carports they want, while other carports remain visible for years to come.
So must one build a garage, or can you just leave your car in the driveway–or on the street? If the latter is an option, this is a perfect example of the best or ideal solution (the garage) being an enemy of the good (at carport).
Comment by Margo — December 1, 2009 @ 5:04 p.m.
As was raised at book club last week, grandfather clauses are an insidious legislative tactic to reduce contemporary resistance to regulation that will be onerous down the road.
Comment by vroman — December 8, 2009 @ 12:51 p.m.