Times have changed
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Editor,
Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. will be a big decision for the Lake County Commissioners as this will be an action-only meeting with no further public comments being accepted. The important topic is whether to repeal the 2005 Density Map and Regulations or keep them intact which was adopted as part of the 2003 Lake County Growth Policy.
The growth policy was sold to Lake County residents with statistics that are no longer true, such as: Lake County is growing quickly; the timber industry is thriving; the projected county population in 2025 is to be 38,570 residents which, by the same forecasters, now project only 28,303 total residents, a 26.6 percent reduction; in 2003, the Census Bureau reported that Lake County will be home to 12,000 new residents by 2025 and now they project, at most, 900 additional residents.
The growth policy statistics are no longer true. In fact, most alarming is the same forecasters’ project, that in 2060, the population of Lake County will be 1,200 people less than we have today. These new statistics are very disturbing indeed. It would appear that the growth policy and the adopted density map regulations have served well to eliminate growth. Therefore, if nothing else, maybe the growth policy should be renamed to be the Lake County Anti-Growth Policy.
“Times have changed,” exclaimed Lake County Commissioner Gale Decker who is in favor of making policy revisions. As a local, full-time Realtor, I certainly agree. Ample “for sale” bare-land is available with little evidence of stabilized pricing. A big part of any prospective buyer or home builder is first their budget and second the “red tape.” I rely on our County Commissioners to balance growth, taxation, liability and equality across our county.
I am personally in favor of a repeal/revision of the current density map regulations as well the current growth policy. We need a reliable policy for Lake County’s future. As of now, it would appear that Lake County will wither away by 2060, based on future population projections. Please share your thoughts with the County Commissioners prior to Feb. 18.
David Passieri
St. Ignatius
