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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

October 21, 2002

No on X

Subheading

Here's the summation of Kelly Brown, field rep for Greenbelt Alliance, and Bill Kortum, chair of Conservation Action: "Measure X is asking the right question -- how do we manage growth? -- but it has come up with the wrong answer."

In recent years, the new Town of Windsor has provided the best answers, including a growth-control ordinance and a voter-approved urban growth boundary.

Now this new town has set about the task of catching up to problems created by rapid growth that began before cityhood allowed Windsor to control its own future.

Overnight the Town Council's efforts won't relieve traffic and other frustrations caused by past mistakes -- but neither will Measure X.

What Measure X will do is wreck the town's dreams of a liveable downtown that relieves pressure for auto-dependent, sprawl development and honors a countywide commitment to city-centered growth.

For people who wish the traffic would go away, the superficial appeal of Measure X is that it would impose even stricter limits on new homes. Residential permits would be limited to 150 in any three-year period.

The problem is the creation of an "urban village" in the downtown cannot proceed in stops and starts. Denied the ability to propose an integrated residential and commercial project, property owners will be driven to commercial-only developments.

The town's dream of mixed-use projects downtown would be lost, and the absence of housing in the city center would increase pressure for sprawl on the perimeter of Windsor and of neighboring cities.

All five members of the Windsor Town Council oppose Measure X because they know that good intentions are not enough. By mistake, this proposal would blow away Windsor's diligent efforts to create a liveable city. The Press Democrat agrees, and urges a no vote on Measure X.

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