Clean air, water and the beauty of the Bitterroot Valley - the things that attract people to the valley - are the very things at stake if planning doesn't move forward.

That was the message delivered this week by Larry Swanson, director of the Center for the Rocky Mountain West and head of its regional economy program.

His presentation signaled the beginning of a number of meetings county officials have set up to rouse public participation in the development of countywide zoning.

“The key question for future development in the Bitterroot is not whether growth will occur, but how it will occur,” Swanson said, as more than 60 citizens sat in attendance at Hamilton City Hall. “In the areas where fast growth occurs, you can't turn the clock back. The growth is up to you to try to figure out.”

Ravalli County isn't the only county in Montana facing challenges presented by growth, all of western Montana is growing at a rapid rate, and with that growth comes a number of challenges.

“The trick in all of this is figuring out how to grow gracefully,” Swanson said. “Planning for growth is one of the most important things you can do to provide for economic opportunity.”

Many people say that grow is unhealthy, but is it?

Economically, growth creates more jobs in construction, real estate and mortgage arenas and has a ripple effect down to restaurants and other businesses. When more people move into the valley, more jobs come with them.

According to Swanson, fast-growth counties have a fragile economy, and “bad growth” can deteriorate a solid economy.

“The reality is that you can degrade real estate property values with bad growth,” he said.

One of the solution's to alleviate a fragile economy is to plan properly, he said, noting healthy development patterns such as clustering housing in rural areas in exchange for open lands, consider rural pasture commons, open-lands bonds and streamside setbacks.

Additionally, Swanson noted that areas affected by rapid growth generally have a fragmented community and little common agreement coupled. They also tend to suffer from a lack of confidence in administrative management and planning management, as well as strained resources which outstrip a county's ability to comprehend change.

Swanson said it's primarily the baby boomers from California, Texas, Washington and other Western states that are flocking to western Montana.

With that influx comes a loss of agricultural lands. According to Swanson, agricultural activities in Montana have not been able to generate profits, leading to more agricultural land being turned into development.

Planning to plan

County planners said countywide zoning will separate incompatible uses, increase predictability, identify the limitations of development, manage growth and allow community decisions for growth.

“One of the biggest struggles everyone sees, for citizens and developers, is the case by case management,” Planning Director Karen Hughes said.

The county's “nuts and bolts” meetings kick-off Monday.

€ Monday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. - Corvallis Fire Hall

€ Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. - Stevensville School Multipurpose Room

€ Thursday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. - Hamilton City Hall

€ Monday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. - Victor School Multipurpose Room

€ Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. - Lone Rock School Gym

€ Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. - Darby Clubhouse

€ Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. - Florence-Carlton School Old Gym

For more information contact the Ravalli County Planning department, 375-6530, or visit its Web site at www.co.ravalli.mt.us/planning

Reporter Anthony Quirini can be reached at 363-3300 or aquirini@ravallirepublic.com