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"Why Managing Growth Matters: A Real Example from This Week"
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When construction shakes your home, it's time to rethink how we handle development. |
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By Paul Graden If you live in District 9, you might have felt your house shake this week. Not from an earthquake. From construction blasting. I'm not an expert on the County Commission's approval process yet. I'm learning. But I know this: when homes shake from construction, something in the system isn't working. I'm running for County Commission because I believe District 9 families deserve to keep the quality of life they moved here for. That means managing growth so new development doesn't destroy what we love about this community. I've been knocking doors across District 9 for the past two weeks. The number one concern I hear is managing growth. Not stopping growth. Managing it. Residents want responsible development that doesn't overwhelm our roads, schools, and infrastructure. Here's what I believe needs to happen: First, residents need to be heard. When the Commission considers development proposals, community input should matter. If residents say "our roads can't handle this" or "our schools are already overcrowded," that feedback should carry weight. Second, infrastructure needs to come before approval. If the roads aren't ready, if the schools are overcrowded, if the water systems can't handle it, we need to say no. Growth should align with infrastructure capacity, not outpace it. Third, developers should pay for growth. Impact fees ensure that new subdivisions fund the roads, schools, and water systems they require. You shouldn't pay for growth through higher property taxes. Fourth, we need to protect existing residents. That means better oversight of construction practices, better communication with neighborhoods about upcoming projects, and accountability when things go wrong. I'll be one of 24 commissioners. I can't promise to do any of this alone. But I can promise to fight for it. I can promise to listen to residents, not developers. I can promise to vote based on what's best for District 9, not what's politically convenient. That's the difference I'm offering. If you're tired of watching District 9 change faster than our infrastructure can handle, I'm asking for your support. Let's manage growth in a way that protects what we love while building a sustainable future. Paul Graden |