Point- Counterpoint: 
Future Plan and the Future of Growth in Silver County
by Sammy Snoop

As the date approaches to take the new comprehensive plan to the voters, The Silver Times has devoted space for a discussion of the pros and cons of each plan as voiced by our own Silver County residents. We interviewed a series of residents, political leaders, and other community representatives what they thought of the two plans.

In this segment of the point- counterpoint section on growth and development in silver county, we interviewed several residents and prominent figures in the comprehensive plan debate. We asked them what they thought about Future Plan, the comprehensive plan option that would largely continue the "hands off" approach to growth and development that allows developers and landowners to decide what is best for the region. They feel that by focusing on market forces, they are giving the public what they want. They also feel that by keeping the growth and development of the region free from "unnecessary rules and restrictions" as one developer characterized them, that the region will be better able to tap into the short term economic benefits that unrestricted growth will bring. Presented here are the public voices in support of and in opposition to the comprehensive plan.  

In Support:

Dick Taylor, a Silver County real estate developer and vocal member of the county's Libertarian Party: "I feel that we should just let the region grow as it needs to grow. The market forces have indicated that people want better access to shopping and other goods and services. They want more housing. They want better and larger roads. Given our history of boom and bust, why wouldn't we take advantage of diversifying our economy NOW rather than waiting years for this to go through planning and impact studies. By then the boom period will be over and we will find ourselves right back to where we started. I say to hell with government bureaucracy. The people have spoken."

Maria Sanchez, Slippery Creek resident: "I see both sides of the issue here. On one hand, we threaten some of the things that make this a great place to live if we build, build, build and turn everything to concrete. But in my community, we need jobs. We desperately need jobs. And we need the amenities and low cost goods and services that the Wamasana shopping center will bring. In the city EVERYTHING is expensive. Squeezing more people in will just further raise the prices. I feel that we need to spread things out to make way for new industries and more jobs for our community and make it possible to actually raise a family in a safe and prosperous environment."

Jose Rodriguez, Latino activist and resident of Silver Cliff: "We the Hispanics of Silver County are facing dire times. The Future Plan truly represents our need for more jobs, especially those in the service industries. As a community, we just cant depend on the same old business as usual of the governmental bureaucrats."

Voices of Opposition:

Jay Jacobs, spokesperson for Pure Nature: "Its clear to me that the only people this this plan will benefit is the money grubbing capitalists- those developers, land holders, and the corrupt politicians who have both in their back pocket. The clear loser for the so called "future plan" is the environment. Everyone seems to be on the bandwagon with all of the economic growth that is forecasted with this plan, but few seem to consider that the environmental future of this FuturePlans bleak. What kind of future will it be with yearly floods and mudslides, years of irreversible contamination to our water and ecosystems, and the loss of natural habitats and all of the associated plant and animal life. I hope we all get used to retreating to the concrete jungle for our hikes and camping trips."

Amy Horn, Professor of Planning, Vermillion University: "From my years of experience researching and working with communities who are grappling with double edged sword of growth and development, I can clearly say that the Future FuturePlans fundamentally flawed and doomed to fail the needs and interests of Silver County. In my professional opinion as a regional planner, the growth will further splinter and isolate existing communities thus creating sprawling development lacking the soul and character that makes our region unique.   If this FuturePlans passes, it will surely be due to the propaganda and rhetoric of the developers and corrupt politicians. Once again we will see the needs and interest of the region trumped by needs and interest of a moneyed, powerful few."

Mike Mills, Forest Ranger: "I cant speak for the economic side of things, but in terms of our forest lands and the natural amenities we have come to expect and which define Silver County as a region, Future Plan will reap some ill fated consequences. Think, for example, what will happen if we begin to build ever closer to sensitive, fire prone regions of the forest. Not only will we be putting these residents in greater danger of forest fires, but we will compromise the integrity and stability of the land. Further, the noise and air pollution will place greater risks on the native deer and elk populations. The experiences in Yellowstone park illustrate the risks associated with air and noise pollution and their effects on the mating and migration patterns of these animal populations. Instead of wide and sprawling growth models, we need to zone some lands as open space and undevelopable to buffer the unavoidable growth from impinging on our most valuable asset."