A
few months ago the Fayetteville City Council authorized the mayor
to negotiate to create an appropriate use of the Wilson Spring area.
A
long-time possession of the city, a high percentage of the land
is flood plain, seasonal wetland and full-fledged wetland.
The
acreage on the northwest side of I-540 in northwest Fayetteville
is home to birds of many species as well as terrestrial species
that are unique to such areas.
A
great many volunteers have studied the area and set out a plan to
preserve the most important parts with the understanding that a
compatible development should be allowed on some portion of the
land.
A
task force including people with environmental knowledge and concern
as well as people whose focus is primarily on development agreed
on a parcelization that would be best for all.
However,
the mayor has now brought forth an offer from a developer that would
buy all the land and then donate a much smaller area than the task
force approved for preservation.
Irony
is illustrated in many aspects of this situation.
One
ironic thing that may not have been mentioned is that developers
are constantly coming up with projects that violate storm-water
rules, wetland-protection rules and the spirit and intent of zoning
ordinances and many other principles dear to the hearts of the city's
residents.
When
such projects are rubber-stamped by the city's planning commission
and city council, the reason is pretty much the same every time:
This is private property and we can regulate only so far as our
existing laws allow.
Wilson
Spring is public property.
The
city has an opportunity to create a demonstration for all of how
the land should be treated. Wetland and streams and trees and native
grass on prairies and the wild things that depend on natural habitat
CAN be treated with respect on this public land. Human use CAN be
regulated to minimize change and destruction.
Wilson
Spring is public property.
A
Web site titled Mudwompers
contains much of the background information on this project from
newspapers, presentations by scientists and people from many backgrounds.
The case has been made for protecting the Wilson Spring area. No
public money is required to buy it or change it.
Wilson
Spring is public property.
Another
irony is that this property is very near the University of Arkansas.
The university has scientists with expertise on all matters involved
in this issue. There are stream and wetland and wildlife experts,
there are landscape architects, there are engineers of all kinds.
There are recreation experts to talk about the value of having such
natural areas for bird-watching and hiking for relaxation as well
as for educational purposes.
The
university, however, has never consulted its own professionals when
planning its projects. The university doesn't consult the city planning
commission before starting a project. There is only ONE detention
or retention pond to slow the rush of storm water from the increasingly
paved-over campus. That one is at Baum Stadium.
The
university is public property.
As
the intellectual center of the state, the UA campus should be a
showcase for doing things not only according to state laws and city
ordinances and federal regulations but also things that scientists
say need to be done to go beyond these requirements to take a leadership
role in such things as wildlife and wetland and tree preservation.
The university should lead us toward reduction of pollution and
storm-water damage as water leaves the campus going northwest to
the Illinois River watershed and southeast to the Town Branch and
West Fork of the White River.
The
university is public property.
It
is time for the city and the university to step up and lead us into
an era of reasonable growth with an eye to the overall highest and
best use of our land for the future. The ambitious goals of many
must be met through means that do not result in long-term damage
to the quality of life of everyone in our area.
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