The Mountain Landscapes Initiative of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina put three Smart Growth catch phrases together and decided to hold public input fora on planning for regional growth. Planning weakens economies by creating unnecessary scarcities. Regional plans decrease accountability and eliminate efficiencies that would be introduced by competing forces. Public input processes to make people feel inclusive about the situation are a ruse. If not, why will participants be shown a documentary “that focuses on how people connect with North Carolina’s mountain region†before they will know what they want out of a regional planning process?
by Leslee Kulba
Wild West blogger