Managing Growth…
Union’s Biggest Challenges 2023-2027.

I started an initiative several months ago to update the Union Town Plan…a plan that originated in 1999 and finalized in the early 2000s.  While this administration has managed growth well, it was time to update planning into the end of the 2020s, into the 2030s, and beyond.  A key component of this plan was to strictly restrict new development density levels and to put an end to high density rental apartments within the City of Union.  The new town plan states that only 4 individual homes can be developed per acre; or, 6 multi-family patio homes can be developed per acre.  

Strictly sticking to these density requirements helps to moderate growth and keep property values up.  Let me explain.  Suppose a developer approaches a land-owner to develop his or her land.  Because Union is the place to be in Boone County, Union land prices are naturally quite high.  The land-owner gives the developer his or her price, and the developer says the only way to make money on this deal is for the city to grant an exception to stated density requirements…meaning more units per acre.  If the city sticks to its no exemption policy…which we will…the developer will have to convince the land-owner to lower his or her price, or no deal is done.  The result of the city sticking to its no exemption policy will be that land costs become a bit more reasonable, and rapid growth slows down.  This is how to best manage city growth and keep existing property values high.

“We can manage city growth or it can manage us!!” Over the past nearly twelve years, this administration has chosen to strategically manage growth…and that is what we will continue to do in the future!”