In the context of MOU argument at the BOCC meeting yesterday, planner Paul Crisan made much of his purpose on the Planning Commission and Oil & Gas Zoning Edit Committee to protect property values in Elbert County. The record does not appear to sustain the kind of support he assumes.
The most current census data shows total home property values in nearby counties as follows:
- Arapahoe $55.4 Billion
- Douglas $36.6 Billion
- Elbert $3.8 Billion
- El Paso $55.2 Bllion
On a per resident basis, census data shows average home property value as follows:
- Arapaho $93 Thousand
- Douglas $128 Thousand
- Elbert $132 Thousand
- El Paso $86 Thousand
So, Elbert County property values look pretty good on a per-resident basis, but only at about 10% of the total value of our next highest neighbor.
Elbert County planners have impoverished total home property value in Elbert County. They have restricted supply of valuable property and made us the poor cousins of the neighborhood. If your claim to fame is you’ve stopped everyone else from improving their lot in life by locking down the potential for economic growth, maybe you need to reevaluate your purpose. And this analysis does not include the value of commercial property which would make the numbers look tragically worse.
This is not a record that supports continuing the current planning philosophies governing Elbert County.
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