AMD: 1, Environmentalists: 0

[So]

Originally posted by: jread

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: jread

Originally posted by: DaShen
Being a CS major and GEO minor from Austin, I am unsure what to think about this.

All I know is that the Aquifer system is already depleted enough. Everyone is going to regret this because it will seriously mess with Austin.

Yes, the Aquifer is suffering tremendously these days. The population explosion of the Austin Metro Area in recent years has already passed sustainable levels. I don't know what we'll do in the future... pipe water in from somewhere else in the state? It's sad really. The aquifer is all we've got yet we keep allowing development to destroy it. Did you know that the water coming out of the springs from the aquifer is 4x more pure than the EPA standards for drinking water? It's amazing how pristine it really is.

At the same time, it is a great boost to the economy to have a company like AMD build a big ass facility within the city. I wish the urban planners and developers could find a way to allow economic development while still protecting the environment here. It is VERY possible... but money talks.

It is also a difficult subject for me since my two biggest interests are technology and city planning.

Does Austin really need any more money than it already has?

If we screw up the aquifer, you might as well kiss the beautiful scenery and natural beauty of Austin goodbye. There is no way AMD is going to spend the kind of money to make their facility Environmentally friendly.

They could have easily built out of the contributing zone, but CHOSE not to. Their employees want to live in the sprawling suburbs that already destroy Austin's natural beauty, so AMD decided to relocate from East Austin to make those assholes happy.

LOL! So very true!

Yeah, those assholes. How dare they want to live in a nice area yet ALSO want to not have a terrible commute to work. Seriously, how could ANYONE in their right mind think like that?

 

[jread]

Originally posted by: So
Yeah, those assholes. How dare they want to live in a nice area yet ALSO want to not have a terrible commute to work. Seriously, how could ANYONE in their right mind think like that?

It's not about living in a "nice" area. I don't know about you but I don't think there's anything nice at all about suburban sprawl. It's wasteful and self-serving... just like so many other things in America. There are better and smarter ways to create urban development, while still preserving the environment AND giving people shorter commutes to work. It is suburban sprawl that creates so many traffic problems in the first place.

 

[FoBoT]

anti-suburban sprawl sounds like socialism to me. within whatever zoning limits the local community established, land ownership and the right to do what you want with your own property is a basic right under the constitution of the US

 

[BurnItDwn]

wow, aquifiers and runoff etc. You Texans have a wierd way of getting your water.
You need a great big giant freshwater lake.

 

[MaxDepth]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
anti-suburban sprawl sounds like socialism to me. within whatever zoning limits the local community established, land ownership and the right to do what you want with your own property is a basic right under the constitution of the US

Until such land use becomes a detriment to surrounding properties and communities.

 

[JDrake]

Originally posted by: mchammer
AMD ftw!!

FIXED NOOB

 

[Kenazo]

They should move that sucker up here, of course there's no employee base, but water wouldn't be an issue. It's always wet in Manitoba.

 

[jread]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
anti-suburban sprawl sounds like socialism to me. within whatever zoning limits the local community established, land ownership and the right to do what you want with your own property is a basic right under the constitution of the US

Yes, I'll admit to being a socialist.

I am not for denying people their property rights, I'm just for better zoning and development guidelines. I think that this "I've got mine, screw everyone else" attitude we have in America is really hurting us. We've created a sprawling, automobile-oriented landscape that is completely unsustainable in the end.... especially with the oil prices going up. I'm not saying that we should all live in highrise condo towers.... I'm just saying that there is a better way to design single-family housing that conserves the environment. For instance, take a number of Tetris blocks and arrange them haphazardly all over the screen, with no connectivity or design. Now, arrange them all into a nice block and look at the space leftover. The same could be said for urban development.... same amount of development but in a better "arrangement".