Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth

Over the past several months we have watched - with considerable embarrassment, frustration, and dismay - as the Montrose County Planning Commission (dominated by three members) has struggled to proceed with our Master Plan revision… now belatedly, even debating the need for the revision. That need – mandated in the document itself – was reinforced approximately a year ago by a public declaration from legal and professional land use counsel – that our current version did not possess “sufficient exactitude” to be usable.

As it stands now, our county essentially has NO plan. The only beneficiaries of this status quo are the short term speculators and developers who will soon move on to other special places – leaving all of us to pick up the tab and live with the consequences. Everyone else benefits from the certainty of a plan.

A prudent person must now ask – where were these Planning Commissioners’ objections when this process was deemed necessary? Are these members actually promoting perpetual “insufficient exactitude” so that the Master Plan can continue to be ignored in defiance of the will of the county citizens who created and endorsed it? Why have a plan at all if we don’t intend to use it and keep it current?

These same questions could be asked – concerning Messrs. Fritz, Brown, and Eckerdt’s objections to the way our professional land use staff planned and conducted the well–publicized, county-wide Master Plan meetings. Nobody objects to a survey; but, where were these gentlemen when our Land Use Staff specifically requested their direction and guidance at the beginning of this process? Silent and invisible…

They have wasted the taxpayers’ time and money by waiting until now to “Monday morning quarterback” our county professionals’ best efforts to obtain objective citizen input. Whether it is simple ignorance or arrogant inexperience at work, or intentional delay tactics to frustrate the process, it’s hardly acceptable performance from our public servants.

Under the banner of “private property rights,” several of these Commissioners have played on farmers and ranchers’ legitimate concerns; and furthermore, have inaccurately implied that this process will somehow lead to their uncompensated loss of private property – thereby unnecessarily polarizing this community. Personally, we know of no one who advocates any such nonsense… It is almost as if these planning commissioners are afraid that open and honest discussion will result in the realization from all sides that most folks are reasonable people, committed to equitable solutions to our growth problems.

Regardless of what some might have you believe, individual rights are not absolute. There is a long established principle in this country that states that individual rights shall be balanced with “the common good.” If you believe otherwise, then you can test this theory when you:

• Try to ride in a car without fastening your seatbelt.
• Try to smoke in a public place.
• Try to obtain a driver’s license without surrendering your fingerprints.
• Try to fly on a commercial airplane with greater than 3 oz. of any fluid.
• Try yelling “FIREâ€Â? in a crowded building that’s not on fire.

This same principle also allows communities to create plans, ordinances, and regulations to manage their affairs. It simply recognizes that individuals’ actions impact others and the community at large. This thought is hardly revolutionary. Numerous communities nationwide have adopted these practices – with fair compensation and incentives given to landowners; and not surprisingly, with no loss in property values (because quality is maintained). The farmers and ranchers’ normal practices of good land stewardship are responsible for the Montrose county that we enjoy today. We will not endorse any growth solution which does not recognize their rights, and provide fair compensation. If Montrose County citizens value their rural and agricultural character, then we also have to be willing to step up and pay for it. We all have to work together to figure that out.

Before we can do that, we need a functional Planning Commission who will allow the discussion and process to go forward. Under the domination of Messrs. Fritz and Brown, and the condoning chairmanship of Mr. Eckerdt, our Planning Commission’s performance has been an unfortunate embarrassment. Their record – particularly over the last several meetings – clearly documents their inability and unwillingness to create an inclusive environment that welcomes all input, and that fails to acknowledge basic democratic principles in a civil manner.

They have repeatedly resorted to insult and intimidation when the merits of their positions are scrutinized by the public, our professional land use staff, and even their fellow commissioners. They have shamelessly promoted specific groups’ agendas in keeping with their real estate and development backgrounds. Even at the most recent meeting, when they briefly acknowledged the unproductive situation (which they have created), and appealed for “respect” – the next words out of their mouths were cries of “blackmail” and “interference: from the BOCC!

They apparently seem to believe that their “independence” equates to a total lack of accountability. Their failure is not that they have strong personal views, but that they have consistently been unable to separate and balance those views with their official public duties, responsibilities which require open, objective, and genuine consideration of all citizen input.

We pride ourselves on being reasonable and patient people; we try to give others the benefit of the doubt and treat others as we would like to be treated - allowing for differing opinions and occasional honest mistakes. Given their record, it would be naïve to suggest that we are dealing with honest mistakes here… We wish these gentlemen would prove us wrong.

Again, the record provides overwhelming documentation that these three commissioners have not demonstrated even a minimal commitment to the normal accepted standards of public service. Since these planning commissioners are political appointees, we have conveyed these concerns to our elected county executives, the BOCC, expressing a vote of no confidence; and we have asked them to intervene in whatever way they deemed most appropriate. We suspect that some “counseling” has occurred; and we now see that a county facilitator has been retained to help our Planning Commission “be nice.” While we certainly welcome Ms. Mostaccero and appreciate her expertise, we must ask – how will her participation force these planning commissioners to simply do their job? Indeed, why do we condone planning commissioners who require regular remediation in meeting the minimum standards of behavior, implied in any position of public service?

We all had similar hopes and expectations that the arrival of Mr. Steve White, who has proven to be a competent and professional leader, would stimulate the restoration of credibility and confidence in our Planning Commission. However, when his actions conflicted with these commissioners’ preconceived notions, they publicly insulted him, alienated his staff, and demeaned his efforts.

More staff is no substitute for genuine leadership, supervision, and accountability. The answer to this dilemma is not hiring more staff or consultants to prop up unqualified commissioners, and lend credibility where it otherwise doesn’t exist. The answer lies in forcing these individuals to simply do their job… or else resign. Ask yourselves - would you still have your job if you had demonstrated a consistent pattern of contempt for your customers (the public), insult and alienation for your coworkers (land use staff and fellow commissioners), and exhibited belligerence toward your supervisors (BOCC)?

Our county’s citizens deserve a competent, functioning Planning Commission, one whose individual members are committed to impartially serving the public and are free of conflicts of interest. As with any effective organization, our county government must set and enforce high standards of excellence and draw upon all of our abundant resources to make Montrose county a place that we’ll be proud to pass on to our grandchildren.

John Cossick & Mary Wood