After the City of Lawrence opened the city$-$owned Eagle Bend Golf Course in $1998,$ revenues

declined at the Orchards Golf Course $-$ a nine$-$hole executive golf course located at $3000$ Bob

Billings Boulevard. In the early $2000$s$,$ the golf course's owner, Mr$.$ Ed White,

sought City of

Lawrence approval to bulldoze the golf course and develop his property for multi$-$family

apartments. Single$-$family homeowners on streets that bordered the Orchards Golf Course were

alarmed. For decades they had enjoyed unrestricted golf course views, the absence of backyard

neighbors, and frequent sightings of songbirds,

deer, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and other wildlife that

frequented the golf course. Several of the residents wrote letters to city officials arguing against Mr$.$

Whites plans to

convert the golf course to apartments

in $2005$ Mr$.$

White and the residents whose homes bordered his property agreed to establish a

conservation easement. Specifically,

Mr$.$ White amended the deed to ls property to promise that it

would remain as a golf course or nature space in perpetuity. This condition would also bind any

future owners of the property. In return, the neighboring residents agreed to pay Mr$.$ White

$$280,000-$ to be paid with interest through an annual surcharge to their property taxes over a ten

year period.

Discuss how the concepts of property rights, liberty and positive externalities were at play in this

situation