The Washington Post has an interesting article that I think is a must read for rural communities. It is about a rapidly growing trend away from the typical "sprawl" subdivision and towards denser neighborhoods that include low rise and mid rise condos carefully mixed with downtown amenities like stores, libraries, restaurants, and other pedestrian (i.e. cars not needed to get around) destinations.
Sound vaguely familiar? These new developments are a lot like the old small town neighborhoods that surrounded and spread out from the Main Street shopping district.
Rural communities that want to attract entrepreneurs and families should be looking very carefully at zoning and land use issues to ensure that local builders and real estate developers are designing new neighborhoods and rehabbing old ones in ways that will meet the expectations of people moving from urban areas. And don't forget to include telecom duct under the streets and to every home.
Telecom is the not the big challenge for small towns and rural communities. It is land use issues. If you get your land use issues in order, and land use includes telecom right of way management, prosperity will follow. But if towns and rural counties continue to build low density sprawl that eats up farmland and forests, they will be behind the curve, and the communities will be less attractive to the people that want to move to small towns.
Why is this happening? One trend is baby boomer empty nesters. As the kids have grown up and moved out, baby boomer couples don't want to live in a faceless suburb where you have to drive miles to get a cup of coffee or go to the library. These affluent couples want to live closer to the action, closer to other people, and closer to amenities.
Is your town ready? If not, are you planning to get ready?