Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507270028
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TIMOTHY KEEFER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Land use is becoming, and will continue to be, an important issue for Southwest Virginia. How we react to the choices before us is critical for the area's economic and social future, as your article pointed out.
Unfortunately, it seems the matter is being addressed in a preservationist/conservationist vs. landowner manner, with governing authorities as indecisive, vacillating bystanders.
While this may or may not be accurate, it raises questions as to how the issue can be managed. It isn't going to become easier. Competing interests must come to an accord, which requires neither government fiat nor unbridled destruction of natural resources.
What is needed is a "win-win" solution. It's possible to have economic growth, reasonable land use, and the concurrent preservation of natural areas and rural society.
In fact, this must happen if our region is to avoid becoming another over-developed metropolitan conglomeration of municipalities, devoid of unique character. Such can be found in abundance throughout this country. We shouldn't attempt to be another Northern Virginia. Rather, we should try to be something better.
By taking advantage of the natural assets available, by keeping them wild and rural, and using them as an attraction for targeted businesses, Southwest Virginia can keep its beauty and see economic growth at the same time.
What will it take? Compromise on the part of developers, landowners, environmentalists and politicians.
Folks like Joe Grissom should be free to sell their land in order to retire. But in what size lots and with what restrictions on the placement of structures? Will it mean less return? It may. But we already prohibit totally unrestricted land use. Development could be managed in a way which creates areas that blend in with the character of a region, keeps open and wild spaces reserved, and avoids overcrowding.
The alternative is pell-mell development, which ultimately destroys a region's beauty, value and character. This eventually will lower the quality of life and value of the area. More and more, economic regions must use the unique assets they have for growth and survival, rather than destroying them in a rush to be like everyone else.
Southwest Virginia should jump up and take the lead in this type of regional preservation/economic strategy before it permits its own homogenization and loses the value it contains.
Timothy Keefer, of Blacksburg, works for an international consulting firm in Vienna.
by CNB