Wednesday, September 7, 2005

The Sept. 2 editorial "Gas Up, Tax Yields Down" argued for higher taxes, along with telecommuting, toll roads, transit and more to address the region's transportation problems.

Another suggestion would be for elected officials to stop catering to real estate developers by rezoning property in areas where the transportation system cannot handle the current population, much less growth. Virginia also needs mandatory impact fees that are large enough to pay for the public infrastructure necessary to support development.

Until that occurs, local officials should refuse rezoning requests where public facilities are inadequate, as is permitted by state law, and negotiate cash proffers large enough to pay for necessary infrastructure.

ROBERT H. JACKSON

McLean

The writer is a committee chair of the McLean Citizens Association.