I launch the Small Town Project with some apprehension. It is inevitable that some of those who profit from residential development will, at least initially, take offense. This includes some members of local government. Others in government have no vested interest in residential growth, but have accepted the assertions of the growth industry and are emotionally invested in their past pro-growth decisions. It is not my intent (nor that of most others who share my view) to offend or alienate these people. By and large, they are fine people who care about the community.

The only exceptions are those few who knowingly spread false information about the effects of residential growth on the community. When my words are a little more harsh, they are aimed at this group. Many othere have come genuinely to believe the pronouncements of the growth industry, so pervasive has been its disinformation. So I cannot judge them nearly as harshly.

Nor, however, can I hold them entirely blameless. I believe anyone who stands to profit from residential growth has a responsibility to research the issues in some depth. If they do they will learn it is simply not accurate to paint residential expansion, even when it’s careful and controled, as generally good for a typical mature town or the area in which it sits, much less as an unambiguously good thing. Almost by definition, anyone who promotes such growth in good faith has not done the research. Fortunately, they still have the opportunity to do that research, and I trust some of them will find the courage to do so.

Near Lisbon Small town character is not the only thing lost to unnecessary residential development.

Nor do I wish to detract from these individuals’ livelihoods. Yet, knowingly or not, the growth machine does and will detract from the quality of life of most of our citizens. I am therefore ready and glad to help find alternatives that will enable those used to profiting from growth to earn a dollar without adversely impacting our towns. We must learn to live together without one group profiting at the expense of everyone else.

It is in part because enough of these folks are concerned, caring people, that I believe we will be able to do this. There are people who will be able to overcome any initial indignation to assimilate the information here, developing a new appreciation for the issues at stake.

Likewise, it is not my intention, nor that of those who share my view, to offend the residents of newer developments, some of whom are my friends. I am not the least bit critical of them for their choice of neighborhood. To date, if a family has wanted to live here, but has only found a house that suits them in a new development, how could anyone blame them for choosing to live there? Lisbon and Mount Vernon are towns which still provide a wonderful, small town quality of life. But that is doomed to change if we stand by and let it happen. That quality of life is sure to decline, if residential expansion continues much further. My criticism, therefore, is aimed instead at the decisions to allow continued subdivision construction and environmental destuction it necessitates.

That said, I do believe the time has recently come for new home buyers to begin considering that a purchase in a newer development will only encourage further residential construction. While you may like an existing home, are you sure you want to promote the construction of even more new subdivisions? How does your home purchase affect the future of your community? It seems the choice of where to buy becomes a little more complex when we examine closely its ramifications.

It is my sincere hope that residents of all our neighborhoods will join in the push to take a fresh look at the issue of further growth. When we do, and when those who have profited from residential expansion find it in their hearts to consider a broader perspective on the topic of growth, we will be better able to work together to create a new vision for our communities’ futures, a vision of improvement rather than expansion.