OK, the city isn't exactly trying to drive up home prices, but it has tried to mandate things that would do just that.  Home builders in Austin have successfully fought two local governmental agencies that wanted each new home in Austin to have a residential fire sprinklers.  These systems would have potentially raised the price of new homes by anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000 or more, depending on the size of the home. 

I understand that the city is trying to protect people, but at what cost?  The American Statesman just the other day ran a story about the city mandating that downtown apartment builders have a certain number of units available as affordable housing.  The city has been concerned about providing affordable housing for a good while now.  OK Austin, which is it - affordability or mandating changes that increase cost?

Besides the cost associated with fire sprinklers, I don't like that another governmental body is trying to tell us what is best for us rather than allowing us to chose on our own.