ST. GEORGE — A grass-roots effort to derail or slow the progress of the Washington County Growth and Conservation Act of 2006, which was recently introduced in Congress, is gathering steam.
More than 100 people gathered on the south lawn of the Washington County administration building in St. George on Tuesday to voice their concerns with the proposed legislation. A newly formed group called Citizens for Dixie's Future scheduled the event, which was billed as a "hold your horses" rally aimed at raising public awareness on the issue.
"When I look at the development steamrolling its way across Washington County, it's clear we need a way to plan for growth," said Louise Excell, a Springdale Town Council member and retired professor and administrator at Dixie State College. "I'm sad to say I don't think this bill is the right tool for the job."
The lands-use bill would designate thousands of acres of wilderness, sell off nearly 25,000 acres of public land to developers, set aside utility corridors throughout the county — including routes for the Lake Powell pipeline — and permanently establish the Red Cliffs Conservation Area. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, introduced a draft version of the bill to the public in March and a revised bill in the Senate and House in mid-July.
Critics of the bill say much of the proposed wilderness acreage is already protected and that selling public lands for development would exacerbate growth-related problems already evident in the nation's fifth-fastest-growing county. Supporters of the bill say the legislation would protect endangered species and sensitive habitats while providing a more regulated pattern for the area's future growth.
Peter Stempel said land-use planners should take another look at how land is currently being developed before considering adding more to the mix.
"We need to think about how we are already using the land. Growth needs to happen in very different ways," said Stempel, who designs homes for a living and favors what's called "smart growth" initiatives in land use.
Lin Alder said Washington County citizens need and want a stronger voice in shaping the future of their communities.
"We want a better plan for Dixie's future and a better process," said Alder, a local real estate agent and developer who grew up in the area. "Everyone agrees we need a good plan for growth. Because this bill was produced behind closed doors, we now have the cart, that's the bill, before the horse, and that's us. It's an unstable bill produced by an unstable process."
For more information about the lands bill and Citizens for Dixie's Future, visit the group's Web site at citizensfordixie.org
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com