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Roger's Home Journal
Roger's Home JournalThe Lighter Side Of Social Engineering
By Roger Faris
Jan 31, 2002 -- Is the human comedy is getting darker with each new joke? Much of the raw material derives from our tendency to understand and appreciate one side of the story (our own), and to regard any other perspective as hilariously stupid and flawed. We insist on absolute freedom in deciding our own affairs, and demand that others be controlled, restricted, or kept out of the way. Our hands nicely complement other aspects of human nature. Our species was provided with opposable thumbs, so we can efficiently grab and hold on to vast quantities of stuff. But we simultaneously wish that other people wouldn't be so greedy.Occasionally, featherless bipeds resolve to do something for the common good. We try to work out intelligent compromises, or a reasonably fair distribution of burdens. A proposed gas tax increase to fund transportation improvements is an example that's part of the current debate. We all need efficient and environmentally friendly ways to move people and products. The money must come from somewhere. This seems laughably simple.
Smart solutions, and taxes to implement them, may eventually get us where we need to go, but only if our leaders can explain the complex challenges and choices we face. They'll need to offer powerful arguments, and convince people who don't want to be convinced. One big problem is that these leaders often find themselves playing straight man to a stand-up comic with a gift for one-liners.
Growth management is a similar issue. We've recently turned away from "every man for himself" policies and begun work on creating a sustainable region. The alternative, continuing to destroy what we love about our area, has been rejected by a solid majority of citizens. A few still howl about "social engineering" as if thoughtful planning was some sort of devil worship. Despite those primitive cries, urban areas are now slated for more density, while rural environments will enjoy more protection from development.
Local cities are attempting to accommodate growth in several ways. Many now permit tandem houses on one lot, cottage development, accessory dwelling units (ADU), taller structures, and so on. Mercer Island, Kirkland, Redmond, Bainbridge Island, and other cities have decided to allow homeowners to create a detached ADU. This is often a converted garage, or a new structure designed to fit into the yard (and neighborhood). Restrictions on the size of the unit, parking, and other regulations for this type of housing vary from city to city. They all require the owner of the property to live in the main house or the accessory unit. This important rule is intended to reduce the concerns of neighbors.
Accessory dwelling units are seen by many as the last hope for expanding the stock of affordable housing. Most people agree that housing costs are no laughing matter, and that forcing local workers to commute from distant suburbs is not in the best interest of anyone. The ADU option has other benefits, including a source of income and companionship for homeowners. We want sensible solutions that make our region a better place. Do we also understand, and will we accept, that some changes may come to our own street? That's the test. If we fail, the result is unlikely to be very funny. Maybe a little like Marlon Brando when he shouted "HA!"
Roger Faris is the director of the Phinney Neighborhood Association Well Home Program and Project Impact Earthquake Retrofit Program. He can be reached at (206) 789-4993.
Reader Comments
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| Anonymous | Nov 18, 2002 | Cascadia | living |
| Detached adu's are a fabulous idea. When visiting Seattle I saw an awesome unit over a garage that was part of the city's demonstration program. It was off an alley near the Luau restaurant. Very cool. Check it out and see how nice it would be to have dozens of those off alleys all over town. Someone was thinking (for once) at city hall. | |||
