ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9607010007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: guest column
SOURCE: ANNA FARIELLO
We frequently hear that Montgomery County has been very successful in attracting retirees to its community. We might ask ourselves why people want to settle here. Or one might ask the reverse. Why aren't people flocking to retire in Michigan, New Jersey or, more recently, in Florida? Likewise, when we tell our out-of-state friends that Montgomery County is a wonderful place to raise our children, what do we mean?
So far Montgomery County has avoided the blight of urbanized America, retaining its rural character while providing the best of amenities usually associated with urban life: schools, jobs and cultural activity. But there are places aplenty where good schools and jobs abound, jobs that pay much more than those found in the New River Valley. Still we like where we live and wouldn't trade what we have for what's out there ... or will we?
On June 17, despite expressed opposition by residents, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors delivered the once pristine Ellett Valley into the hands of "progress." Before we embrace such massive projects as the "smart" road, we should realize that development is a two-edged sword that can deliver a fatal self-inflicted wound.
With the smart road and Interstate 73 will come development, to be sure. You'd better get ready, Montgomery County. With it will come its urban companions: crime, drugs, traffic, parking, pollution and noise.
You who stood up that Monday night and said you've lived here 30 years don't know the fear of violent crime. Retirees in Florida have an abundance of shopping malls filled with the best goods. They also look for parking spaces close to the entrance because they fear being robbed or mugged on the way to their cars.
You who stood up that Monday night and said that our community will experience unprecedented growth have not lived in a community where you live behind perpetually locked doors. In Richmond it is so common to be robbed that it is party conversation. You feel lucky if it was "just" your car or your home, glad that you weren't personally attacked.
You who stood that Monday night and announced with pride that you were providing opportunities for your children don't know the "opportunities" offered to children brought up in metropolitan communities. How will our DARE program, developed as an excellent educational tool, deal with school shake-downs and drive-by shootings?
You who stood that Monday night to praise the Montgomery County Supervisors for making the "hard decision" condemning the land in Ellett Valley will have more of their praises to sing when they must make harder decisions regarding expansion of jails and teen curfews.
You who stood claiming that the smart road will alleviate traffic congestion don't know what traffic congestion is. The development you seek will bring longer commutes, traffic jams and parking problems. Drive from Northern Virginia to Washington during rush hour to test the "advantages" of development. It is common to commute for an hour or more and just as common to sit in traffic for another hour. If you find a parking space inside 30 minutes, you've had a lucky day.
You who stood minimizing the acreage required from the heart of Ellett Valley to build the smart road should try a night's sleep where the day never ends. Do you really think we can build a major highway without noise and pollution?
If people are leaving American cities in droves to come to our community, we should stop and consider what we have that they don't. We will be hard-pressed to slow population growth, given our attractive quality of life. But rushing headlong into "progress" will drastically change life as it exists in Montgomery County. There will be no going back. You can build a road any time. You can't rebuild a valley.
Montgomery County, be careful what you wish for.
Anna Fariello is a professor at Radford University and a Montgomery County resident.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 linesby CNB