In this episode, we turn our attention to policy makers and citizen groups' persistent distaste for growth, and confusion around managing it intelligently. And all over the US, albeit the world, there is a tug of war between those who live in a place and those who want to live in a place with each believing they hold virtue over the other. With NC assumed to become the seventh most populated state in the country by 2030, leaning in is a prerequisite to resolving our issues. That's why we're thrilled to welcome our guest Aaron Houck, a land use attorney at Robinson Bradshaw, who specializes in assisting his clients with zoning and entitlement endeavors and has some fascinating opinions about both sides of the argument. But he's also someone who is questioning the human tenues that block our ability to flourish.

So, what dogmas are fueling the grumblers who stand between us the right answers? Aaron reminds us that just because you're in the room doesn't mean you get to make all the decisions. And he brings up the point that although a city's outcome should be influenced by local citizens having what he calls, "a voice, a veto and a vote", we don't think about the people wo aren't in the room and are being denied all three. These are the folks who will need a home next year, or after school in 5 years, or when they're transferred here in 10 years. What will they find? Will they forever be the reason existing residents groan in distaste?

It is these ideas and more that light up the airwaves on our current Getting Real with Rob podcast. It's a conversation about how to see things on a larger stage and increase our peripheral view. It is about helping our elected leaders and neighborhood groups understand the economic and behavioral nuances that must be addressed. Otherwise, we're stuck in anger. That's neither democracy nor leadership.

By way of background, Aaron Houck brings to his profession an intricate set of skills and insights. His family moved to Charlotte when he was eight years old, he is a proud graduate of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, having attended Newell Elementary School, J.T. Williams Middle School, and Independence High School. And he went to Davidson College, where he double-majored in economics and political science, served as co-editor-in-chief of The Davidsonian, and played on the scouting squad for the women's basketball team. He then braved the cold, darkness of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for three years at Harvard Law School before returning to Charlotte to work as a real estate attorney at Robinson Bradshaw. He left the practice of law to pursue a Ph.D. in political science at Duke University, and he taught for seven years at Queens University of Charlotte, where he was a tenured professor in the Political Science Department. He subsequently boomeranged back to Robinson Bradshaw.

Where it gets fascinating is when Aaron's career as a lawyer and a political scientist was fueled by an interest in how cities work (and why they don't). At Queens University of Charlotte, he taught a course on the "Politics of Urban Design" that included taking a group of students to Barcelona. As a land use attorney, he helps his clients navigate rezoning and entitlement processes.

Aaron and his wife, Pearl, have two kids. They live in the Elizabeth neighborhood. They enjoy college sports and spending time in the North Carolina mountains.

Listen now to this episode!