Look at the reality before signing petition

I would like to express my concern for this non-growth initiative that some are trying to bring before the Grass Valley City Council.

I moved here 20 years ago and at that time I thought that we should just blow up Highway 49. Stop those people from coming up here from the valley, even though I had just moved here from the Midwest. Now, in retrospect I see that without those new people we wouldn't have the wonderful options that we have today. Instead we would have storefronts that would be boarded up and far more unemployment than we have today.

I do agree that building more $500,000 homes at this time would be ridiculous and actually any builder would probably agree since there aren't the folks here to buy them. With the cost of fuel growing at such a rate, those that drive to work down that same 49 are going to have to change something dramatic in their lifestyle to continue.

But, there are some options on the table that this same initiative would hinder that would be extremely good for this community. Loma Rica Ranch stands out from the rest.

The idea of a self sustaining community with all the amenities that one would need to have a comfortable life without the expense of having to travel to appreciate them is far different than a large tract of expensive homes. Yet this broad initiative would stop this as well.

Non-growth is pure fantasy; smart growth had better be our reality. I really don't know how many of these people that support this idea grew up here, but I imagine they came from somewhere else just as I did.

A community needs to continue to grow, but in a much smarter way that suits today's ever-changing realities.

We have spent a lot of money to create a general plan, hired people that were experts in their field, why don't we allow that money to be spent wisely.

It is obvious that the sky is falling; yet making rash, broad reaching decisions because of fear is not a wise course of action.

Before you sign your name to any petition, I implore you to look at the true reality of this situation and not just from what you are being told.

Would you have liked being told you couldn't move here? Sorry, no more room!

John Odenkirk lives in Grass Valley.