Columnist Susan Snyder: Make your voice heard on growth

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004 | 8:20 a.m.

A nationwide growth report published Monday shows the Las Vegas Valley is far less an anomaly than many of us believe.

The Brookings Institution document predicts that by 2030 the U.S. population will increase to 376 million, or by 33 percent, according to published reports.

Half the buildings, homes, offices and factories we will need don't exist, according to the Washington, D.C.-based think tank. About 60 million homes of some type will need to be built. But only a third of those will replace dilapidated existing units.

Anyone who has lived here long enough to measure growth in terms of which roads now go through that didn't last year doesn't need to be reminded that we are paving our desert valley at an alarming rate.

But we might need a nudge to participate in the process of planning where to put all this new stuff.

Clark County commissioners on Jan. 5 will consider a mixed-use planning ordinance that will guide development of the region. An open house on the issue was hosted Monday night.

But residents still can see the proposed map online. Go to www.co.clark.nv.us. Double-click the icon in the center of the page that says "Community Growth Management Initiative."

Once on that page, click on "Minutes & Presentations" on the menu at left. Look under the Nov. 30 meeting for "Proposed Overlay Map." That's an overview of the proposal. Take a look and send some suggestions and comments to your county commissioners.

A notice also appears on the growth management page for the Clark County Community Growth task force's public forum set for 5:30 p.m. today in Mead Conference Room 1001 of the Las Vegas Valley Water District office (1001 S. Valley View Blvd. near Charleston).

The agenda for tonight's meeting is posted as well, but true to government work it's packed with bureaucratic jargon. As with most bureaucratic plans and agendas, nothing listed there looks like it applies to you.

But any growth issue being considered or discussed by public employees or elected officials applies to all of us. By not showing up or talking to them, we assure they will do whatever they please or think best.

Just go. Get up and tell growth task force members what you want to preserve and what compromises you are willing to live with. Use the plain language you wish you'd get from them in return.

Such meetings are annoying and time-consuming any time of year. No doubt most of us have far better ways to spend our time 10 days before Christmas. It's hard to believe public officials didn't, in some measure, know that.

At least the growth task force scheduled an evening meeting day-job people can attend, even if it is right in the middle of a busy holiday week.

Clark County commissioners considering a far-reaching land use plan four days after New Year's hardly is better.

We don't have any choice in scheduling public forums. We don't have any choice but to accept the droves of newcomers who, like us, want a better life.

At least can make our voices heard on the choices we do have.