The Role of Realtors in Community Planning

Here's a clip of me speaking at Pensacola's City Council Meeting last week regarding a zoning issue in the Eastside Neighborhood. The recommended action to council was to consider amending the Zoning Maps to correspond with the Future Land Use Maps, or in short, to change many of the properties from R-NC to R-1AA.

As a realtor, I feel that this action would destroy the fabric of the Eastside Neighborhood as it is this very zoning that has given the neighborhood its form and function. A change to this would limit the development of mixed use properties, and would necessitate City involvement in any future development of nonconforming lots. The neighborhood-scale commercial development that so many have been yearning for would likely only be possible by going before the Zoning and Planning boards.

While community input is paramount to the development of our city, a developer's first step shouldn't be City Hall. In fact, my belief is that, in a perfect world, developers would start with the neighborhood with which they are trying to be a part. Below is the opening preamble to the Realtors' Code of Ethics. While it may sound lofty, it guides my thought process when considering issues like these.

"Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. REALTORS? should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment.

Such interests impose obligations beyond those of ordinary commerce. They impose grave social responsibility and a patriotic duty to which REALTORS? should dedicate themselves, and for which they should be diligent in preparing themselves. REALTORS?, therefore, are zealous to maintain and improve the standards of their calling and share with their fellow REALTORS? a common responsibility for its integrity and honor."