Harper faces biggest critics

For the last 8 years the biggest critics of Commissioner Bob Harper's policies in running the county have been the dwindling numbers of home builders and developers in Porter County. In one election Harper featured photos of campaign signs at the Porter County Builder's Association for a Republican as proof that home builders were trying to subvert the anti-growth policies he was pushing through.

The Times article, and in full disclosure I was not there, suggests there was a bit of burying the hatchet. Current President Bryce Pickering is a democrat and labor union member and is working diligently to bring the warring parties together. All good to hear.

Now for some details:

• When Commissioner Harper was pushing to shake down developers for green space "donations" when they approve projects, there was a home builder on the committee. This builder has the gall to stand up for personal property rights, and was uninvited.
  
• As Plan Commission director agreed in the meeting, home builders have not been consulted since, and have been largely marginalized.
• In the county's defense, there are very few home builders remaining in Porter County. The recession of 2007-2009, bank and mortgage company failures, foreclosures, and very low demand for new housing has decimated this otherwise vibrant job creation niche. Only the very small builders remain, and they really don't have the political moxie to rise up against impact fees, green space shakedowns, or onerous plan commission requirements.

This may all sound like good news to those who decry all forms of growth as hurting the quality of life in Porter County. But I think this line of attack is starting to lose it's appeal when it becomes obvious that anything that can help increase construction activity will create jobs.

I have often said that religion is for rich people. Meaning of course that it easy to have a strong philosophy when things are going well. When home builders and developers were making money in 2000-2006, it was easy to consider a $2,500 impact fee no big deal. When developers were racing through neighborhoods, it made sense to the majority that they should do their community service and donate 10, 20, 0r even 30% of their ground to open space. Now, not so much.

I have called for an elimination of impact fees, an elimination of the open space ordinance, and at least one home builder on the plan commission here before. Perhaps this new open discussion between Commissioner Harper and the construction industry will yield some results.