From Deseret News archives:
The good and bad of growth
This can be viewed as both good and bad. A healthy construction market means more jobs and opportunities. It also means, for the most part, that Utah is attracting growth and that people here are thriving enough to afford new houses. On the other side, however, it also could mean that the state is getting caught in the nationwide real estate boom that some experts are calling a bubble.
This already has struck Nevada and Arizona, sending average home prices there to astronomical heights. That sort of boom is fueled in large part by speculators who have little interest in the long-term health of a community, as opposed to most traditional homebuyers. It leads to a host of collateral problems. In Phoenix, for example, teachers, firefighters and other service personnel are being forced into distant suburbs because of rising rents and purchase prices. That means long commutes. It also means difficulty attracting people to those jobs. Likewise, all low-income people and the homeless have less of a chance to find decent housing anywhere.
But the biggest drawback to rapid growth is that it tends to catch local governments off guard. If they don't have intelligent planning policies in place, they quickly could see prime open space disappear forever as concrete and asphalt spread like weeds.
City councils and planning commissioners should take time now to promote walkable communities and to set aside land for parks and recreation. Despite the need for tax revenue, they should not approach rapid growth like a starving person at a buffet table.
Utah's history is one of steady growth. The larger the state's population becomes, the quicker the pace of that growth also becomes. But, generally speaking, a community has only one chance to develop itself the right way.
Comments
- Obama: Troop drawdown gradual 9:29 a.m.
- Exports up 6th straight month 9:24 a.m.
- Austria passes gay civil unions bill 9:18 a.m.
- EU seeks united front on climate 9:16 a.m.
- Nobel returned to Iranian laureate 8:46 a.m.
- Stocks rise on trade deficit, jobs data 8:45 a.m.
- Gay-friendly curriculum phased out 8:43 a.m.
- Spanish gov't to change abortion bill 8:41 a.m.
- IOC OKs cycling, tennis changes 8:28 a.m.
- BCS = power conference monopoly 8:15 a.m.
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers
- Max Hall wants to look ahead
- Cougars use depth to beat ASU
- Non-BCS schools not given fair shot
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Letters: Global warming a lie
233 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
185 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
147 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
138 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
120 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
115 - Revive full food tax?
101 - Panel passes BCS playoff bill
98
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
The pot calling the kettle black hey?. As if (before he quit using drug's),...
Sorry if this is a repeat, it wasn't clear if it took my comments last time....
Wow. What a bold prediction. It would be the first win for Lehi in what, 5-6...
just a quick clarification to my post above...the 5 conferences to not each...
Did you watch the game? lots of our players were throwing up " a wing and a...
Leave the nudists alone! Why does the government think they have to (and...
So, the story is FINALLY going to be told??? I think there may be some...
Re: to RE Michigan WHo: Ha ha, wow, you obviously didn't read the first...
It's interesting to me to see that even in articles that are critical of the...
'Just because this article stated that the school curriculum adopted in May...


You can be the first to comment on this story.