That's a very eloquent article. I've got sympathy for it, I grew up in a rural area myself. During my life, I've seen some lovely seaside and rural areas "developed," much of their timeless beauty is gone forever.
I confess nevertheless to having mixed feelings on the subject. I don't think the fisherman themselves are necessarily getting the short end of the stick, at least financially. Their home places have become worth millions in many cases. I don't know about Hatteras, but in Key West, many of the old "conch" families are finally cashing in, the money is just too irresistible. IMO, it's not up to the limousine liberals or other wealthy or more educated types drawn to Key West's character to tell 'em they can't sell out, because those fancy folk want a certain "atmosphere" for their vacation homes. Cashing in their property is these families' only shot at that kind of money.
My only suggestion is that the town fathers of places like Hatteras, Ocrakoke, the Keys, the Chesapeake, wherever, take matters into their own hands, try to look ahead, try to do what's right. Preserve the unique character of those places if they can, but try not to screw the current property owners, many of whom have been there many years, out of the small fortunes that are falling in their laps either.
What do you think?
I agree, everybody has their price and when you open up an envelope and see a dollar figure worth more than you have ever made or even seen in your life... Well, personally, I'd have to pull out the old atlas and start researching where my next move will be.
I believe in most of these instance, the majority of the property owners are seniors whose roots are embedded deep in that soil. In most cases though, it won't take much of a salesman to inform them that they may have only 10 to 20 good years left and why not do some traveling, buy that big yacht, etc... Besides, that once, quaint little village turned popular resort has meant tax rates that compete with the average current mortgages.
One solution I have seen that I have some personal knowledge about is conservation easements giving the property owners tax breaks in exchange for agreeing not to develop the property (i.e. condos, etc). In the one instance I am familiar with, the owner of a large piece of property near St. Michael's Maryland (Eastern Shore) maintains all rights and privileges (hunting, fishing, farming, etc...) and has three parcels set aside for beneficiaries to build future homes. The land however, can not be subdivided and sold to commercial entities. This fellow bought the initial property on a point overlooking a scenic river years ago (late 1950s) and as the land surrounding him became available he bought all that up too. The environmentalists love this guy. His thinking was that he just wanted the ability to pick his neighbors. I guess he decided that he didn't need any neighbors after all and finally penned a deal with the World Wildlife Foundation. Now, I am not privy to his finances but he did say that he gets a substantial tax break.
He told me that he kept thinking that he felt as if he was making a deal with the devil but in the end he had to decide what was best for him and his family and when his days are over, if the family wanted to, they could sell the property privately and still make a few million even with an easement in place.