Smart Growth issues mixed endorsements

Published Monday, October 27, 2003
Columbia Daily Tribune

The Boone County Smart Growth Coalition has come out in favor of city water and county sewer issues on the Nov. 4 ballot but is not endorsing the city’s sewer issue.

The coalition, which represents 12 groups, cited the city’s plans for extending sewer lines to the southeast as its reason for withholding its endorsement on that issue.

"In particular, the proposed sewer expansion in southeast Columbia and nearby Boone County presents problems due to sinkholes and losing streams," the group said in a news release. "Storm-water runoff from dense development, even with Best Management Practices, most likely would result in polluting the underground water system."

The group suggested that a plan should be completed for developing in the watershed before sewer lines are extended. Technology isn’t capable of eliminating many contaminants found in storm-water runoff, Smart Growth said.

The county regional sewer issue, on which all Boone County voters will vote, received the unqualified support of Smart Growth. The group said it would help solve wastewater treatment problems in subdivisions on the fringes of Columbia.

The city’s water-bond issue received lukewarm support. The coalition said about two-thirds of the money will be spent meeting the needs of new customers, yet the projects mentioned in the issue have merit.