The Boone County Smart Growth Coalition has
found allies in the county commissioners, who, in turn, said they have
waited for a citizens group such as the coalition to be formed to initiate
grass-roots efforts ever since the county began dealing with growth issues
in the mid-1990s.
"They are more receptive than I thought they would be," said
coalition member Tom Vernon after a meeting with county commissioners
yesterday. "They are more enthusiastic than I thought they would
be."
In the meeting, the commissioners and four coalition representatives
exchanged opinions and ideas on the county visioning process, impact fees,
transfer of development rights, city annexations, conservation easements,
property rights and housing affordability.
When the coalition expressed its interest in reaching cities such as
Hallsville, Sturgeon and Centralia, the commissioners offered to make
contacts there.
Vernon, who helped found the growth coalition three months ago, brought
to the commissioners the group’s suggestions for preservation-oriented
land-use planning and hoped for endorsement.
The document calls for a countywide park system, identification of
environmentally sensitive areas and collaboration among the county, the
city of Columbia and other towns. It also suggests a sensible land-use
plan should encourage development near city centers and farming that is
environmentally friendly.
"We think it might help preserve the rural nature quality and the
agricultural base of Boone County," Vernon told the commissioners.
"We’re always behind the curve," Vernon said. "We need
to do something now."
The commission asked the group to submit the document to the county as
an open record for public scrutiny.
Kevin Hosman said he wishes local governments would be as cooperative
as their counterparts in Oregon, from which he moved to Columbia three
years ago.
"It’ll be nice to see the city and the county working hand in
hand," he said.
Lamenting the lack of tools the county has to regulate growth,
presiding commissioner Don Stamper said the commission is committed to
sensible growth in the region. "I have a passion for that," he
said.
The county, for five consecutive years, has been lobbying in Jefferson
City for an authority to impose development fees. It has also been looking
into possibilities of transfer of development rights, a concept that
promotes more intense development near city centers.
Stamper emphasized that any successful program on land use would be
initiated by the people and then endorsed by elected officials.
Ben Londeree, who leads the efforts in the coalition on researching
impact fees, told the commission that he is following about 52 communities
nationwide that either have development fees or, like Boone County, are
trying to implement the method.
"They like this as much as we do," Londeree said of the
commissioners’ views on impact fees.
