Posted by Joel Libove, a resident of another community, on Mar 2, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Alamo voters may wish to look at Orinda before voting yes on incorporation. Locally-imposed land-use rulings, however well-intentioned, made by personnel lacking in planning experience and impartiality, can impose limitations on an individual property that can far outweigh any purported benefits to the community.

Orinda's incorporation in 1985 brought increased costs and impedances to many small property owners, some of whom reported outrageously oppressive treatment by its planning department and design review boards.

Alamo already enjoys good land usage and roads. County government can often provide more unbiased, uniform, and cost-effective service than can a small municipality attempting to assume or "enhance" these functions. The promised benefits of Alamo incorporating are reminiscent of similar pitches made for incorporating Orinda, that ultimately yielded higher costs and a very mixed result.