I voted for C as well. To me, it seemed like the most realistic progressive plan, in that it significantly reduced sprawl and strictly limited growth on the aquafers, added urban infill, but also was realistic in providing for modest growth on new land. D just seemed unrealistic. Georgetown and Bastrop will never have the type of urban lifestyle that might work in downtown Austin. People live in the suburbs to have more room, so plan D's idea of urbanizing the suburbs is unrealistic. Smart Growth is the answer. Rebuild and reuse land in cities and plan for growth in the suburbs with mass transit plans and good zoning.

Envision Central Texas is a classic example of a non-scientific poll conducted purely for political purposes. This poll was self-selected, in other words, utterly meaningless. It was also strongly biased, presenting estimated costs and benefits that were biased heavily in favor of dense urban development.

But the basic fact, folks, is that most people don't want to live in apartment high-rises downtown! No local policy or even punitive taxation will affect the growth pattern of Austin much. People want a house and a yard.

TM

That's probably true.

This really bugged the hell out of me.
Of course, we've been implementing
'B' as long as I've been here, and
I just can't see where the wheel would
turn to change that.

Maybe this is like everybody wanting
dignified TV and nobody watching it.

TM is a moron. "most" people, if you look at the market, want to live in apartments and houses at various points in their lives. Hell, almost half of the people in this area currently live in multi-family.

And there's nothing wrong with the Villas that isn't much worse in any alternative scenario (like superduplexes or rundown single-family shacks).