Is open space preservation contributing to the housing crisis?
I’ve heard it said that we have reached a point where too much land has been preserved as open space or restricted by agricultural/historical designations. I’m sure this isn’t an issue in all areas, but it definitely seems to be near me. While the area is very beautiful and serene with expansive historical farms, you hardly ever see a subdivision of houses being put up or even vacant parcels of land to build on. GIS maps show that a lot of the major tracts of land have been put into agricultural conservancies and other types of designations restricting development. While I’m still generally pro-conservation, I’m starting to wonder how much of an impact it’s having on the current situation, and if there should be a limit to these sorts of things.
Keep in mind that I did not study urban planning, it is just a passive hobby of mine. So perhaps this isn’t as big an issue as I perceive it to be. Any input appreciated!