Grow up — or grow out

A recent letter [“Progressively Paving Paradise,” April 4] adds to many I have read in the past year that attack our City Council on the topic of development. It seems that this issue is one of the greatest dividing forces among our “progressive” community. When downtown development is proposed, groups of citizens within our community typically show up to speak out in opposition. When suburban or slope-side developments are proposed, opposition from different groups ensues. I am so relieved to live in a community where we the people have a voice. I live in West Asheville and am delighted by our successful opposition to the proposed Wal-Mart there. But there is a problem: Cities and counties function like corporations. They must grow. Asheville, specifically, must grow and simultaneously prosper. There is absolutely nothing progressive about resisting change that is inevitable. There is nothing more progressive than working with your community to create the kind of change that is possible and preferable.

I have a bumper sticker on my car that calls for a moratorium on slope-side development. I attend community meetings and do my best to work towards consensus. It is true that in 2006, we saw more development in Asheville than at any other time in the previous 10 years. And while some of those developments are nauseating, most authorizations were either unavoidable because of property-rights laws, or they provide for growth in the downtown and annexed areas. Incidentally, not all activity classified as development enters Council chambers. Understanding when City Council is responsible and when they are not is the responsibility of anyone who wishes to speak out in this regard.

At some point, this community must face the fact [that] we grow up or we grow out. Growing up means creating a more viable downtown, with affordable housing constituting at least 40 percent of all development. Growing out means ripping the green off of our mountains and losing the character and natural beauty of this region. Yes, we need to create a UDO that represents the people of Asheville. Yes, we need a moratorium on new development. Yes, Mr. Branyon has a right to hold profit and growth in ill regard. But the fact is, Asheville is an incorporated entity that must grow and prosper. I doubt we could imagine a better Council to represent us at present. Let’s work with them. Let’s tell them what we want before it’s too late. Let’s be proactive in sending them a clear message that we would rather build upwards in downtown than destroy our mountains and pave more roads. We would rather work together as a community to create a better UDO than simply bicker about it from the sidelines. We would rather embody our own progressive ideals. Wouldn’t we?

— Ian Bryan
Asheville