The Environment

Yes, an example is the regular sewer spills the City has, and the state Department of Environmental Regulation’s sanctioning of the City over the issue. The City is not maintaining the infrastructure within the existing urban service area. In addition, we allow the clearcutting of trees, and don’t require developers to preserve as much of the natural environment as possible in new developments. In the past developers could not get away with this destructive type of development inconsistent with the desires of our community as exemplified in the Comp Plan.

Go back to the landscape and environmental protection elements in our Comp Plan and give them priority as intended. The various development review committees and planning and growth management staff should be doing what they are supposed to, based on the goals of the Comp Plan instead of letting developers get approval for everything they want.

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I don’t think we have a problem, per se. Our environment is certainly a priority, most of it pristine, and we want to maintain an emphasis on that, and on issues as they arise. Sometimes it’s a balancing act. It is important to protect trees but a few years ago my wife and I were looking into installing solar panels on our roof; however, it would have required the removal of two huge trees next to our home, so we decided that we preferred the shade and the beauty of the trees to the solar panels. Our water quality is second to none and the City prides itself on the awards we have received.

There are sometimes breaks because it is an aging infrastructure but our staff get right on it and we try and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. There have recently been two water main leaks on the street in my neighborhood that are under repair now. When issues arise, as they do, we get right on it because the City wants to maintain and preserve our environmental quality.

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I don’t think we have any major environmental issues thanks to our regulations and the comprehensive plan – but without them, we would. The Planning Department scrutinizes new development proposals to ensure that everything is in place to protect the environment, within the scope of the current regulations. If the regulations are out of date, then the Commission must seek to modify them. We need to remain concerned and vigilant to avoid complacency.

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David T. Hawkins did not respond to ATN interview requests.

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While we have some protections in place, I think we can do a better job in development to keep things right.

I think government can do a better job of getting the pulse of the whole community.  We haven’t done a good job of bringing all parties, residents, developers, and government, to the table to develop a consensus approach to development regulations pertinent to traffic, water, trees, and the like.  It gets back to being proactive, not reactive.

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Historically, we have done a really good job of recognizing that our natural environment can drive our economy.  People want to live here and move here because we have a beautiful environment.  We have miles of hiking, biking, and walking trails.  We have an incredible inventory of passive parks.  I would like us to improve the number of active parks that we have.  It takes smart planning and leaning on the comp plan, as a guide for how we do things.  There’s been a lot of criticism of the development associated with the Welaunee Project.  But, we need to remember that there is be a 17 mile contiguous trail loop built around that property and over half of that property is going to set aside for conservation. 

I think it’s key to work with property owners and developers in terms of what can be done to increase the buffers and passive park areas around the houses they are going to build next to existing neighborhoods.  We have enhanced the tree ordinance at the county during my last four years there.  The most important thing we have to balance between growth and development is maintaining the character of our community.

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