Plan smart for growth

It's not at all surprising that Washington County is a hot property, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It continues to be the nation's fastest growing metropolitan area, with a 2006 population of 126,312. Perhaps more eye popping is the area's growth rate — 40 percent over six years.

St. George, according to the financial press, is one of the best places in the nation to retire. Its temperate climate, easy access to national parks and scenic beauty make it a highly attractive destination. The winters are mild and there are golf courses a plenty. What's not to like?

But explosive growth brings steep challenges. The community's infrastructure must keep pace with demands. While the national press often highlights amenities that render St. George attractive to retirees, Washington County needs housing stock that accommodates workers.

None of this will happen by accident. Community leaders are well aware of the challenges posed by explosive growth. They have been participating in a public process called Vision Dixie, led by Envision Utah and supported financially by the Nature Conservancy Group, Washington County and the State Institutional Trust Lands Administration. The outcome of this public process is not binding, but it provides county leaders with input on how Washington County residents want their communities to grow. More meetings are scheduled later this month and in May, when the county's potential growth scenarios will be released for public review.

Meanwhile, water managers are attempting to develop new water resources to meet future needs. Washington County's growth is so great that water officials predict water supplies could "run out" by the year 2020 unless the state constructs the Lake Powell pipeline.

The overlay to these scenarios would be the reintroduction of the Washington County Growth and Conservation Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. The bill would set aside much-needed utility and transportation corridors, protect wilderness and designate the state's first Wild and Scenic River. It also would create recreational opportunities and help fund conservation projects. Critics say the bill would further fuel development in Washington County and put up for sale hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands.

The bill was heard in committee in the previous Congress, but it was not considered by the full House or Senate, effectively killing it. At this point, its prospects in a Democratic controlled Congress may be bleak.

But credit Bennett and Matheson for working together on this issue, which, at a minimum, has fostered the local visioning process. Most leaders will concede that further growth in Washington County is inevitable. But the state and communities can make deliberate choices in mapping out a future that preserves the area's natural assets but addresses necessary infrastructure development to accommodate this profound increase in population growth.