Where I Stand — Irwin Molasky: Handling rapid Las Vegas growth a matter of using smarts

Friday, Aug. 21, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

WHEN THE LAS VEGAS Sun asked whether I would express my thoughts on growth patterns of Las Vegas, I readily responded because I have definite opinions on this issue.

The author of a recent newspaper article felt that our "constant growth needed a breather" and used such terminology as "manic growth," "radical lifestyle changes," "snatched up by developers" and "rescue the ring around the valley." Prejudiced views such as that will hurt our future.

I disagree with the anti-growth opinion! Mayor Jan Jones calls for guided growth. Clark County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Gates is fearful that "let's stop growth" is an artificial solution and could hurt this community.

Recently, the Urban Land Institute and the EPA worked together in Baltimore to promote "smart growth." They defined their mission in this way: "Growth is inevitable, growth is necessary, but how growth is accommodated can be good or bad. In setting the framework for land development and redevelopment, we must focus on practices that are environmentally sound, economically vital, and that encourage livable communities -- in other words, smart growth."

Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening said, "The goal of smart growth is not no growth or even slow growth. Rather, the goal is sensible growth that balances our need for jobs and economic development with our desire to save our natural environment before it is forever lost."

Smart growth must begin with the assumption that there will be growth. The Census Bureau shows national population growth continuing for 30 years. According to the Urban Land Institute, we should shift the debate away from the pro- and anti-growth context of the past.

Smart growth can be viewed as development that enhances communities, is compatible with the natural environment, uses tax dollars efficiently and is profitable for private investment. It should preserve open space and natural resources. Existing infrastructure should be enhanced and expanded to serve new residents.

Smart growth has the potential to bring together pro-growth and anti-growth forces under a common agenda for community preservation, economic success and environmental protection. It can provide the common ground on which disparate elements of the community can collaborate for the benefit of all.

A recent survey by the Review-Journal and Channel 10 concluded that the economic climate in Las Vegas is good. That is not achieved by accident. There is good and bad associated with growth. The good is obvious, the economy will remain vibrant and will remain strong. There will be good living here -- much more sophisticated theater, more art, more entertainment opportunities, more lectures, more of the Nevada Dance Theater-type of culture.

The bad is also obvious. We are going to create a lot more traffic and pollution. We will need many more schools, and we will need to improve our transportation infrastructure.

It is my belief that infrastructure (forward planning and implementation) will produce the guiding factors in the growth of this community. We are going to need new infrastructure, and we must continue to build it.

Of course this includes freeways, highways, streets, schools, sewer lines and water lines, anything needed for future growth. Now the question is, is growth good or bad? It is my belief that slow growth is bad and that managed, controlled growth is good.

The atmosphere that exists in development in California today is stifling, with slow-growth and no-growth policies so oppressive that those communities are suffering financially -- foreclosures, cutbacks, no new jobs. It is my belief that when a community puts in a slow-growth or no-growth political base, that community will die.

A community has to continue to develop, continue to grow, to have a vibrant economy. We cannot allow the "not in my backyard" syndrome to pervade our political process. If we do, we are all going to be sitting here in years to come looking for new jobs for ourselves.

Therefore, we must elect good public officials. The reason for most of our success in the past is that we have done this.

We have elected county and city officials who believe in the pattern of controlled growth. They must vote for new projects with conviction, not with emotion. Have there been mistakes? Certainly. However, look around you, look at the economy. Today people are living better in the Las Vegas area.

Why do you think we are getting 5,000 to 6,000 in-migration a month, many from California?

The public officials we elect in the future must have the courage to stand up and say no to moratoriums, no to slow growth, yes to architectural controls while we keep moving forward. If we do not, we will lose our future. If we are smart, our future will be assured.