COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING SURVIVES
Friday, May 20th, 2005 -- 8:29 AM
Supporters of Clark County's comprehensive planning process scored a decisive victory Thursday night. The County Board shot down Greenwood-area supervisor Bob Rogstad's resolution to suspend "comprehensive planning activities" on a vote of 10 in favor to 19 opposed. During discussion of the resolution, Rogstad reitterated his belief that this has been the most controversial issue in the history of Clark County. He said proponents of the planning process had "shoved the plan down the throats" of people who did not want it, using "misinformation" and scare tactics.
"We were told it was mandatory when in fact it is not. We were told if we didn't have a plan in place by 2010, a plan would be put in place for you either by the county or the state - that, too, is not true," Rogstad claimed.
Planning and Zoning administrator Jay Shambeau has been at the center of the "Smart Growth" controversy since the beginning. In addressing the board, he rehashed the process to date. Clark County began the planning process 6-years ago, before Smart Growth became state law.
At the beginning of the process, 23 of the county's 45 municipalities were involved; at present, 19 of the 45 municipalities are planning with the assistance of the county. Only one of those municipalities, The Town of Dewhurst, has adopted a plan.
Shambeau told the board the process didn't represent anything more sinister than local people making decisions as to how to grow...
"Local people make these decisions sitting around a table and bring them before their local elected leaders for adopted," Shambeau said. "That's what comprehensive planning is. No black helicopters, no white U.N. trucks, no boogeymen."
The county has received two grants totalling $326,000 to conduct their planning process. $196,000 has been used. There was some question as whether Clark County would have to repay that money.
The best-guess of County Corporation Counsel Frank Vasquez is the money would have to be repaid if the county didn't adopt a plan by their November, 2005 deadline.
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