Balsam residents ask county to control growth

By Lisa Majors-Duff

As has been the case in the previous meetings, two questions were posed to the audience members: What needs to be changed in Jackson County? and What needs to be preserved in Jackson County?

Responding to the first of these questions, those present seem to agree that steps should be taken to control growth.

"To add an additional 10,000 people would destroy what is special about Jackson County," one audience member said. "We need to be proactive and take a stand to preserve what we have. We need to put up barriers to in-migration."

We don't need to restrict economic development, because that's for the benefit of those already here," he continued.

"Restrictions can't come without some sort of regulations," said Balsam resident and county planning board Chairman Dean Coward. "Residents and natives need to strike some sort of balance between our fear of regulations and the benefits of regulations.

"The planning board proposed community-based zoning and land use management," Coward said. "These can be tailored to fit different communities."

Another in the audience said industry should be brought in, while still another said the small-town community feeling of the area should not change. Requests for additional funding for volunteer emergency services were also made.

The list of things worth preserving in Jackson County was similar in length to items that need to be changed. The local culture, good school and good teachers, health care facilities, and the community atmosphere of knowing and trusting your neighbors were all listed as needing to be saved. The quality of life and the natural environment of Jackson County also need to be preserved, audience members agreed.

"The time has come for state government to examine growth issues in our state in a comprehensive, systematic and coordinated way," N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt said as a kickoff to the state Smart Growth Program. "North Carolina has grown tremendously in the past quarter century, and we want to continue to encourage healthy, environmentally friendly growth that can bring good jobs to our state.

"However, our quality of life will suffer unless we make growth work for us as a state, and not against our goals to preserve clean air, clean water and open space," he said.

Jackson County's next Smart Growth meeting will be held after the Christmas holiday on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. at the National Guard Armory.

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