The new Washington County Lands Bill sponsored by Sen. Bob Bennett is
much improved from the earlier version. It seems the senator has paid some
heed to the views of the citizens of Washington County.
After the 2006 lands bill, the Washington County Commission funded a citizen outreach program and used $500,000, funding from various sources, to ask what citizens wanted here in Utah's Dixie. Thousands responded and a program titled "Vision Dixie" gave a clear indication of how citizens wanted this county to proceed with growth.
Citizens overwhelming voted for a clear set of growth principles:
* Plan regionally, implement locally
* Protect air quality and conserve water
* Guard our signature landscapes
* Provide rich, connected natural recreation and open space
* Build a balanced transportation system
* Focus growth around walkable, mixed-use centers
* Direct growth inward
* Provide a broad range of housing types
* Reserve key areas for industry
* Focus limited public land conversions to sustain communities and preserve critical lands
Citizens for Dixie's Future came into existence in 2006 as a response to Bennett's first lands bill, and Vision Dixie was a product of that movement.
We believe that it is not appropriate to pick and choose principles while ignoring others.
Therefore, while we strongly support the increased land protection, elimination of controversial rights of way, and reduction of the amount of publicly owned land for sale, we believe a closer look needs to be taken at provisions regarding sales of public lands beyond the 4,300 original acres designated for federal Bureau of Land Management land disposal.
It makes no sense to sell more public land, in view of the large reserve of private developable land available in the county.
Further, the use of proceeds from the sale of land designated as "national" for "local" purposes is questionable, particularly where that money can be used to further the now controversial Lake Powell Pipeline project.
It is abundantly clear that the citizens of this county don't want to follow the lead of other Southwestern cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix.
We urge Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson, R-Utah, to co-sponsor a listening tour of Washington County so that all the time, effort and money spent on Vision Dixie will be meaningful. We're confident we can jointly create a bill that will achieve our mutual goals.
Most of all we want to be assured that we're being heard. That's what democracy is all about.
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* PAUL VAN DAM is executive director of Citizens for Dixie's Future.
