Monday’s Big Answer to Development Question

July 17, 2006 |

Well, after the 2nd edition of Friday’s Big Question, there was a 100% increase in the number of responses.  Albeit, that meant that there was only 1 response (thank you Bryan), but we have got to start somewhere, right?  At any rate, I encourage all of you to not only read the blog, but to respond to the posts that you find.  Trust me, it will make things much more interesting. 

Now for my Big Answer . . .

Area localities certainly have their hands full when it comes to achieving a balance between the desire for increased development and the desire for sustained quality of life.  The attractiveness of the Charlottesville area is a double-edged sword.  One the one side, people are attracted here because of the slower pace of things, the rural character of the land and scenery, and the overall quality of life.  On the other side, the more and more people that move into the area, the easier and easier it becomes to erode the very things that brought people here in the first place. 

Luckily, most of our public officials are very aware of this situation.  To that end, most localities have developed a Comprehensive Plan to deal with growth.  Most of the time, these plans involve selecting areas in a county that are designated for growth, and selecting areas that people would like to see remain undeveloped.  These plans usually involve planning for infrastructure and capital improvements as well.  Of course, every county’s Comprehensive Plan is just that– a plan.  It is not written in stone, and as the elected officials change, and the residents change, so can the plan.  That, however, is a good thing.  Area localities need flexibility when it comes to dealing with growth and development issues. 

In my opinion, the best thing that area localities can do when it comes to balancing development and quality of life is simple– stick to the plan.  If you trust that the things you have decided to do will lead you in the right direction, then just do those things.  Of course, other issues will most certainly arise; but if the plan is good to begin with, it should be much easier to handle unanticipated issues.

How does sticking to the plan apply to growth and development?  Well, for starters, any proposed development needs to be carefully considered at every stage in the process.  It begins in the Planning Commission, and ends with the Board of Supervisors.  Every proposal needs to be put up against the Comprehensive Plan to ensure a good fit.  All aspects of a proposal need to be considered as well.  It isn’t quite as simple as just putting a shopping center in one place, or 100 homes in another.  Every proposal has its drawbacks and its benefits.  All of those things need to be examined before a decision is made.

To summarize, balancing development and quality of life is not going to be easy.  It is going to take time, and the results of our efforts will not be known for years to come.  If, however, we can be mindful of all the issues at play, and continue to plan for growth, it will make the task that much easier.

Posted by Daniel | Filed Under Albemarle, Charlottesville, Development, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Monday Answers, Orange 

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