Quality not quantity

The Flathead is still one of the most beautiful valleys on the planet. Open space and rich, black river delta farmland are the essential elements that make this place so unique. If we keep losing these areas to seemingly mindless, random development it won't be long before our incredible landscape will look like just another "anywhere USA."

I witnessed what happened to south Florida when development was left unchecked. Thousands of acres of Everglades, sunflower fields, corn, etc. were virtually gone within a couple of years. The "back way" I used to drive to Miami Dade College from Homestead looked like another planet by the time I left the area.

Once these large tracts of land were broken up, there's no going back. It has become a common experience as to how fast this can occur. Look at Somers these days and the center of the valley around Farm and Manning Roads! And Eagle Bend is way over doing it.

Of course growth is inevitable, but it is possible to grow sensibly and with a land ethic. Every subdivision proposed should not be "rubber stamped." Planning boards need to think long term and make the difficult decisions. Places like Boulder, Colo., Ketchum, Idaho, and the San Juan Islands in Washington have been able to grow sensibly and protect the landscape. It is time we based these land use decisions on something other than short-term economics. Why not consider quality of life, wildlife habitat, water quality, air, etc. as equally important as individuals making as much money as possible from a piece of land?

If you flew with a bird's eye view over the Bigfork area you would see that the larger tracts of land, like those on Coverdell Road, are disappearing rapidly. And oddly enough, the Coverdell area is next on the chopping block. The fairly large population of Red-tailed hawks will be losing their hunting fields, not to mention the eagles, bluebirds, deer and countless array of other wildlife. The 60-acre wood owned and cared for by the Shaners for so many years bordered by the rolling open fields to the south create an excellent environment for birds of prey.

If you are interested in how our local system works, come to the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee meeting Feb. 23 at 4 p.m., at the Bethany Lutheran Church (near Rosa's Pizza) on Highway 35.

Lee Proctor

Bigfork