COMP. PLAN REMAINS DEAD
Friday, July 24th, 2009 -- 2:35 PM
Depending on who you listen to, those pushing comprehensive planning, AKA Smart Growth, are either concerned citizens, or literally working for the Devil himself.Amid a firestorm of controversy, the Clark County Board voted down a comprehensive plan in 2006. The Planning and Zoning Committee brought a resolution to the board last night that would have resurrected the process, but it was voted down 12-15.
But not before some familiar arguments were dredged up.
Margaret Grottke of Chili told the board Smart Growth stemmed from the United Nations? ?Agenda 21.'
"It is in no way designed to make our country safe or strong," Grottke said, "it is a plot to undermine our Constitutional government, and destroy everything our country stands for."
Grottke said Smart Growth was part of St. John?s revelation.
"It is pax roma, one world government," she claimed. "Anyone that votes for Smart Growth comprehensive planning is a traitor to America. They want to bring our country to its knees. They want to see us digress to the level of every other Third World country."
But committee chairman Carl Kallberg of the Owen area said there was no grand conspiracy.
He said municipalities that don?t want a plan won?t be forced to adopt one. Their land would be left ?unrestricted? in the county plan.
But, municipalities need a comprehensive plan if they want to enforce zoning.
"We've held over 100 meetings that people could have come to. The very first meetings we held, we told all the municipalities this is not something they had to do," Kallber said, "but, if they had zoning or some types of regulations, by 2010, they needed to be consistent with their comprehensive plan."
Opponents disagree that a comprehensive plan is needed to enforce zoning, but Kallberg said the county has contacted lawyers that agree with their ruling of the statute.
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