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Ruralite Cafe: Published 7/27/00By Lisa Majors-DuffGreenways talks 'energize' task force members |
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Reporters love a good story, but even more than that we love good quotes.
While attending both of this week's greenway sessions lead by Ed McMahon, director of the American Greenway Commission, I found both. Check out some of these gems: "Failing to plan is planning to fail." "The best way to develop is to decide where not to develop." "The most important question is not 'How much will it cost?' but 'What should we do?'" "Unmanaged growth will destroy everything you love about Jackson County, North Carolina." "Our sense of place is disappearing with growth." "Development is not the problem - it's the pattern of development that causes problems." "Dollars do grow on trees." "The more you are 'Any Place, USA,' the fewer reasons people have to visit." "You can put a dollar value on a view." "Growth is inevitable and desirable, but progress doesn't demand degraded surroundings." "Sign competition is like too many people talking at once. Turn down the volume." "Be willing to say 'no' to bad development. Set some standards." "You will always have naysayers. Sometimes you just have to do it." "Western North Carolina will look like New Jersey with mountains if you don't do something to prevent it." "The power of place - buildings, open spaces and views - are no less important to a community than religion, language and culture." And those are just the ones I could write down, scribbling as fast as possible to put ink to paper. Ask anyone who attended one or both of McMahon's talks, and you could very well get a few more to add to the list. The message behind these nuggets of knowledge is as simple as it is complicated. Basically, McMahon is a big believer in both development and conservation. Change, in the form of development, will happen, should happen, he says. But it should not happen at the expense of any given community or its unique characteristics. Development and conservation can and should live together in peace and harmony. McMahon's number one reason for this belief, above even beauty, safety and furry critters, is economic prosperity. As with most Washington, D.C., attorneys, money is mighty important. But greenway development in Sylva (or any other small town in America) would not put money in his pocket; it would undoubtedly put it in our pockets, those of us who call Jackson County home, he says. And that's what he wants, that's what he preaches to small communities and large cities across the nation. "Don't be 'Anywhere, USA.' Tell your own stories, be proud of your individualism, plan for the future, and make yourself happy." The only hard part is the "how." His answer: "You have to decide, and you have to do it." As a reporter I should not profess a fondness for types of stories. Each and every one of them is part of the job I love. But the power of people heading in the direction of positive change has always intrigued me. I don't think we can accomplish all we want... I know we can. I know this because the best quote of the two-day session came from task force member Phil Gibson, who said, "I'm energized." P.S. There's been no official Tess sightings, though several folks have called and offered their assistance in our search. Thanks to those who expressed concern. |
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