The old saying "time is money" is especially true for businesses and builders whose business decisions often involve forecasting and loans.  Raising capital to renovate or expand a business, take on a new venture, or develop much needed affordable housing means calculating and assuming the risk of meeting loan obligations as well as navigating permit and approval processes. 

  

The more regulations or steps of permitting and approval a business must face, the more potential delays.  The more delays, the more costly the project or venture becomes.  These additional costs are passed through to the end user -- the buyer or customer.  In his book, Residential Land Development, David Johnson states "...the consumer will continue to bear the cost of overregulation" and in terms of housing points out that "The cost for regulatory reviews and approval delays can represent up to 20% of a new home selling price".

  

While few would argue that regulations and review are needed to protect the health and safety of community members, excessive regulations for businesses mean delays, higher costs and even shortages of supply as businesses decide not to proceed with a venture in a highly regulated or restricted market.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in their article "Regulations: Restoring Balance" writes of the proliferation of regulations by unaccountable agencies which rarely need to justify  decisions they make "that harm the livelihoods of millions of Americans because the process does not allow for effective judicial or other independent review of major rules (lack of checks and balances)."

  

It is common wisdom that regulatory burdens hinder small businesses the most because these enterprises often do not have the staff and resources to stay abreast of and navigate additional regulations or permitting processes.  In the historic town of Alexandria, Virginia, the maze of regulations and permitting steps ended up hurting the small unique businesses which the area had hoped to foster [see The Death of Main Street: Are big chains to blame or is it excessive regulation?]

  

Many property  and business owners voice concerns about National Heritage Areas.  They point out that the legislation creates an unelected unaccountable private organization with the legal authority to create and implement management/land use plans for large areas which include private property and businesses.   They also note that the management plans must meet the requirements of the Department of the Interior -- a Federal agency -- before federal funding is released.  Concerned groups point out that an NHA management organization would become another layer of review and approval for property owners and businesses to navigate. 

  

Beth Machens, an Alderman in Missouri sums up some of the concerns in her statement "If you own a business or residence in the designated area, you will be dealing with another layer of government that you have no control over. You cannot vote them out or their program out. They have plans for you whether you like it or not..."