Christopher Simms is the executive director of Citizens for Smart Growth, based in Hailey.
Living in the Wood River Valley it is impossible not to hear stories of how things used to be. Undisturbed views over ranches to distant mountains existed where now there are subdivisions. There were champion cowboy skiers. People from all walks of life played together and lived side by side. Halloween wasn't just child's play, it was a community-wide bonding and memory building event. A person's worth was not measured by his bank account but by his dedication to the outdoors and his neighbor. The size of one's house paled in importance to the size of the trout caught that day.
Sun Valley was renowned as a place where Hollywood stars looked up to the local chef because of his acumen on Bald Mountain. Papi Rogers was known to treat Sun Valley Co. employees with the same respect as guests. It is often forgotten that "Sun Valley" was a hot springs destination before the first ski lift was constructed. Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue all hosted first-class hotels standing three stories from the boardwalk. It is indeed curious that those buildings, now long gone, could not be built according to zoning laws now in place.
Old and not-so-old timers rightfully bemoan the loss of something difficult to pinpoint. It is something far larger and more important than the loss of landmark buildings. It is the loss of community—a place where one feels comfortable, welcome and wanted. Blaine County still possesses the incredible natural beauty of years gone by. Many of the people and even some of the buildings are still here. So what is happening?
Our world-class vistas, recreational opportunities, and people have created a rarified and enviable place to live. The market demands a high price for a rare commodity. Our population has been increasing steadily. Population growth demands change and people fear change. As result of an antiquated planning policy and market forces our valley now faces crucial issues, among them: housing, services, transportation, downtown vitality, preservation of open space and conservation of resources. Now is the time to take an introspective look at what we love about this valley and what we can do to preserve it.
The first destination ski resort in North America is now at a crossroads. We must decide whether our current policies are creating the community we want. Our zoning laws continue to force outward expansion. Oddly, laws meant to limit growth are in fact encouraging an ever-expanding footprint on the land, slowly but surely eroding community, the scenic views and the historic Western way of life. The choice is distinct. We can continue on as we have, complaining about inevitable growth, watching our sense of community erode, or we can actively shape the future of our community by embracing growth and the market and making them our allies.
I invite all citizens who care about the future of this community to attend the annual open meeting of Citizens for Smart Growth. Join us at the Ski Heritage Museum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, to hear some new ideas and tell us yours. The widely accepted principles of smart growth address these complex problems and provide well-reasoned and proven solutions.
We can't dwell on the past or rely on nostalgia to maintain our way of life. But we can remember why we chose to live in this incredible place as we look ahead to exciting things in the future. Together, let's celebrate what we really love about living here and then take active steps to protect it.
