By Helen Sabin, Corvallis
The name, ENVISION HAMILTON, struck a chord with me about th growth of Hamilton and I would love for the planning group to answer the following questions:
• Money? Where is the money going to come from to build additional roads, additional housing, additional sewage, additional infrastructure such as police buildings, hospitals, schools, stores, restaurants, entertainment facilities etc. to meet the needs of more people and growth?
• Taxes? Will HIGH TAXES be the norm in Hamilton and in the entire valley to pay for all the social services that will be required? Right now, Hamilton has increased the sewage taxes. How many more taxes will be raised to pay for all that will be needed to handle and provide for an increase in the population?
• Water? Where will the water come from to handle the needs of more people coming into the valley? Right now, we are in drought conditions. What if that persists for the next 5 years. Will we build a damn on the Bitterroot or other rivers and streams? Further, the Bitterroot Valley is closed to more applications for water meaning we have to use what we have now. No more permits will be given. We don’t have enough water now to handle all the needs. Will that lead to water restrictions and perhaps drastic ones? Will farmers be told NO you cannot use all the water you have been using? Will citizens be told to shower two times a week or less? And water the grass only once a week?
• Traffic? A nightmare at times – and more people, more traffic, means slower driving times and congestion and accidents.
• Personnel? Police/Deputy Sheriffs/Firemen (if we can get them) Where do they as well as Teachers, city personnel, come from? And doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, cashiers, construction workers, etc. where are they coming from? We can’t fill jobs now even with the growth we have had. How will that change in the future?
• Affordable Housing? Property is so expensive right now that few can afford to live here. Renters cannot find suitable and cost-effective homes and apartments. How much housing and what type (high density?) will be needed to meet the demand? Who will pay for it?
Most of us want a safe, small, clean, healthy, place to raise our families. Stop the growth and change in Hamilton. NO NEW housing developments in any town should be approved until old, decrepit houses, barns, etc. are torn down and new ones are rebuilt on existing land.
I would love to have answers to these questions. When City Planner Matt Rohrback said, “Growth is inevitable,” he was right… but he could not answer how to STOP or LIMIT the growth in the valley to keep it rural while Hamilton and the entire valley have time to think about what to do. City Council and the County Commissioners should answer these questions first! Are they ready to talk?
Clark P Lee says
I think you will find our officials refer you to the zoning and planning ballot that was soundly defeated about 15 years ago.
Ya reap what ya sow.
Helen says
Clark….
The city says planning must be done every 5years . Can you tell me more about this ballot??
Clark P Lee says
Helene,
The city plans are not the same as the county. Developments can be put adjacent to city boundries without city input.
In 2004 the then county commissioners, at the request of the public, developed a growth policy and zoning plan. This was in response to the growing blight along the Hwy93 corridor and loss of ag land among a few.
Some out of state agitators persuaded some of the minority commissioners to back a repeal ballot and pushed it under the guise of ‘property rights’. The Growth policy was repeled in 2008. I am sure that is is no coincidence that the new commissioners are all land developers and contractors.
And that my friend, is the story of the west.