GROWTH: Quality of life more important

20,000 new homes. 50,000 more people. In the next 10 years.

No, it’s not a misprint. This is what the county is actually planning to accommodate. Are you kidding? Who wants to see that happen here? Who really benefits from rampant growth? How does rampant growth benefit residents of a well-established thriving community like Coeur d’Alene? The county needs to seriously reconsider its policies and willingness to accommodate this kind of growth.

The biggest discussion so far seems to only focus on how to pay for additional services demanded by a growing population. Several ideas have come forward, including things like requiring impact fees to developers or special Mello-Roos fees to homebuyers. But, these measures don’t deter rampant growth. It still occurs.

The ‘elephant in the room’ that nobody seems to address is: Should all growth be accommodated — basically uncontrolled? If not, what can we do to sensibly manage growth?

The outdated thinking that all growth is good, must be re-thought. Rampant growth usually leads to diminished quality of life — due to increased traffic, pollution and crime, and stresses on public services such as police and fire protection, city water and sewer capacities — and certainly schools and medical services. These public services have very real limits. One control would be to limit the number of building permits as these capacities are approached — i.e., permitting only smaller projects and ‘incremental’ growth.

Accommodating all growth is absurd. Quality of life should take precedence.

ROGER SMITH

Coeur d’Alene