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Article published Jul 16, 2008 Pro-preservation citizens dominate workshop
By Iva Butler of The Daily Times Staff
Citizens supporting preservation of the mountains, waters, scenic vistas, wildlife and natural beauty of Blount County overwhelmingly outnumbered those favoring individual property rights at a Blount County Planning Commission workshop Tuesday night.
The workshop was held to get citizen input on an updated and revised Policies Plan.
Kathleen Skinner, chair of The Raven Society, said "open space conservation -- the protection of natural areas, agricultural lands and woodlands -- benefits all Blount Countians. It provides recreational opportunities and scenic landscapes; preserves wildlife habitat; protects streams and ponds from polluted run-off (including silt); maximizes the amount of rainwater absorbed into the soil, thereby replenishing groundwater supplies; and helps with air quality."
Cost of community services for open space is 40 cents per dollar of property tax paid, whereas cost of services for residences is $1.25 for every dollar in property tax paid -- costs for schools, roads and utilities, she said.
"Low density, single-family subdivisions that require an automobile to get to stores and community services are the most widely used residential pattern in the country. This sprawling pattern of development consumes agricultural and forest land at a rapid race, contributes to increased housing costs and has begun to degrade our environment and even our quality of life," Skinner said.
Marian Fitzgerald said that better regulations are needed to protect the county's rivers and streams.
Gordon Wright spoke up for development. He said Blount County has a tremendous amount of open space already -- forests, TVA land, the Smokies and community centers.
"There is a dramatic effect in tax revenues when you conserve so much property," Wright said. "Somebody's got to pay for it. Houses on ridgetops is economic development."
Don Headrick of Townsend agreed. "These people who own ridgetops and hillsides pay property taxes on them. I don't understand why we have to be burdened with more regulations. People who said what visual areas they want preserved don't pay taxes on them."
Ingrid Haun urged the county to retain the things that make it unique.
Derek Harmon said, "We don't want more homes in our rural areas. We may need that farmland in the future for our very survival. A density bonus sounds like perks for hand-picked developers."
Landscape architect Caron Beard said, "Cluster development increases cost of infrastructure like roads and sewers. We need some kind of landscape ordinance."
Ellis Bacon said, "Ecotourism is one of the most viable and sustainable economics we have. Over 60 percent of tourist dollars now are being put into spending on genealogy, ecotourism and special places. Ecology and economy are totally entwined in our community."
Blount Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves said "good planning is good business." She used as an example Hilton Head Island and Charleston, where the people got together and maintained the beauty of their areas.
Mary Gregory of Townsend said she did not want to go back in the past when trains and loggers operated in the Smokies. "Let's take the long term view and preserve what we have."
William E. "Booty" Miller said when early settlers came here in the 1700s the white population was close to 0. "It's now 114,000. We're beginning to get in each other's way.
Blount Planner John Lamb said written comments on the plan are still being accepted.
"When I was growing up in Six Mile we walked to Sidney Lanier Lake to go swimming," he said. "If you go there today you'll find a lake filled with sediment. Do unto those downstream as you'd have those upstream do unto you."
Blount Planner John Lamb said written comments on the plan are still being accepted.