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Editorials - 05/02/02

It's time for action to protect residents' quality of life
An important hearing will be held tonight at the Jackson County Justice Center. Residents will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on regulations proposed to control potentially polluting industries as elected officials continue to consider the enactment of an Industrial Development Ordinance drafted by the Jackson County Economic Development Commission.

Everyone should attend. This is an issue that will impact all of us who live in Jackson County for years to come.

Growth has come to the mountains and without local laws in place to direct this development, there is a real risk of damaging some our greatest assets - our pastoral setting, clean water and quiet residential neighborhoods.

Qualla neighborhood activists, who feel besieged by a noisy helicopter and a potential asphalt plant, don't think the proposed ordinance, which would not allow asphalt plants to locate within 500 feet of a dwelling, goes far enough.

We have to agree. If the 500-foot limit remains in place, that would mean an asphalt plant could be about as close to a house as Meatball's is to The Sylva Herald. That hardly seems to be enough of a buffer between heavy industry and residential neighborhoods.

Several commissioners have expressed their willingness to increase the distance to 1,000 feet, the buffer included in the Ashe County ordinance EDC members used as a guide, while others would prefer a half-mile.

Another problem with the draft ordinance, in the minds of Qualla residents and two commissioners, is that sight-seeing helicopters are not addressed. Some commissioners have said they'd like to see helicopters included.

We would prefer to see commissioners move forward on this ordinance. If adding helicopter regulation would slow the process, we'd rather see that issue tackled separately.

In our view, this county not only needs an ordinance to regulate polluting industries, it needs comprehensive land use planning to provide for orderly growth and development. And we needed it yesterday.

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