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Show OPINION Sunday, February 28, 1999 TheSalt Lake Tribune Envision Utah’s Real Mission Is to Outline the Tough Choices for the Future g recent weeks, I've noted expressions about sion Utah that revealed likely choice to accompany upour limited private land base toward that goal cooperatively. Such foresight and collaboration will insure that market forces are allowed to workeffectivelyin our community. By doing so, we will actually preserve options, not and work to make the region eco nomicallyviable. We need to con- vateentities. e to those who However, if a particular scenario have expressed concern that this would require a larger invest- effort will result in sometype of regional government or top-down mandatethat will take away individual rights or limit local con- trol. This is simply not true Envision Utah has never advo cated the establishment of a re gional government, nor has it fa vored a top-down mandate. On the contrary, Envision Utah was created with the belief that only a broad-based public consensus can effect changein Utah. Webelieve the decisions and the ability to prepare for future challenges must comefrom thepeople That’s why wehave engaged in an openprocess, hosting public last ment in infrastructure (ie., insed taxes) or result in poorer quality, the choice is still legitimate if the communityfeels the trade-off will bring a greater value This is really what Envision fact, the growth scenarios pre sented to the public in January a possible choices for 2020 and be yondwere developed basedon in put from Greater Wasatch Area residents during a series of public meetings held last summer Second, a clarification to those whohaveexpressedcriticismthat growth choices presented by vision Utah seemed to direct specific conclusion. Bach of the four growth scenarios presented by Envision Utahrepresents avi Some residents have expressed concerns that certain growth scenarios. hosen, will limit residents’ housing choices and force many residents to live in dense housing on small lots. This misperceptionis also untrue. Housing affordability and choices arevital subjects to many Utahis all about — realizing that Utah families and individuals. Currently, many communities limit housing choices — often as a reaction to or fear of too much some tough choices to about our future. And prohibit market forces from e though somemaynot like the con- growth. Thesezoning restrictions sequenceof our choices, it's im- working freely to provide for the needs of some citizens. full implications of those deci- ed by Envision Utahrepresents a portant for us to understandthe sions while thereis still time to choose Envision Utah went to excruci- Each growth scenario present- different mix of choices, includ- ing large-, medium- andsmall-lot residential, as as condos. ating lengths to insure it provided apartments, t mation any of the scenarios. Those who t and most accurate infor nine months to gather public input. In 79 local governments and 16 pri- each at critics maynot like when evaluating the options are the consequences of the choices. the dents’ housing needs, we can work more than20,000 work hours and input from eight state agencies. was also accompaniedby alist of jected costs and benefits that I'd lik meetings during ically for’ Utah, and required le choice for our future, but BY JULIE HILLMAN available to residents for evaluation of future growth op tions. The technical analysis of the scenarios was conducted by the QGET (Quality Growth Efficiency Tools) Technical Committee, comprised of leading planning andtechnical experts from state nd local government as well astheprivate sector. he ork of the committee was overseen by the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. The models usedfor projecting future conditions were developed specif- andcot tages. Nochoiceis eliminated in limit them, giving as manypeople as possible the opportunityto find adequate and desirable housing for each stage in life. There are also those who are critical of Envision Utah because it did not offer a “no growth” sce- nario for consideration that far more complex than wouldbelikely to leave or not comeat all) curthermore, this is a highly charged emotional issue on which it would bedifficult to reach a broad-b broad-b: ased community consensus Therefore, Envision Utah concentrate its effort in areas whereit is more likely to achieve whether it occurs sooner or later. The underlying questions Envi- sion Utahhas raisedare difficult ones but ourselves of our unique region. We must wrestle with how quickly to use and createda long-term are worth grappling with, so wecan preservethe beauty, prosperity and neighborliness BY SEN. KENT CONRAD ment of Laborprojects morethan 130,000 new jobs will be added everyyear for each ofthe next 10 haven't heard the news by now years in just three ITfields: scientists, engineers and systems ana- one glanceat the classified sec- lysts BISMARCK, N.D. — If you tionof any local paper in America will tell the story: Hundreds of thousands of well-paid, highly skilled jobs remain unfilled na. tionwide because qualified workers of a lack of The shortage is particularly pressing in theInformation Technology(IT) area with several hun dredthousandjobs vacant around the countr, growth is nationwide. At h Dakota’s first Technology Conference lastfall, every indus try leader therecited recruitment difficulties as their highest priori ty This shortage in skilled labor isn’t just a problemfor IT corpo rations. It’s a problem for us all. If we don't meet the need for To harnessthefull potential of this revolution, we can nolonger ignorethe demands it makes of us to educate and re-educate our work force, We can’t continueto depend on ever-increasing numbers of foreign workers to meet every step to create full opportu- growing sectors of our economy. Tryto think of any ma- Dam’ enterprise or empower- ment zones in depressed areas. Those who develop training programs in school districts whereat least half the students are eligible for the school lunch programs, or wholivein areasof- ingrelief at those best able to pro- ture is always a wise bet. I hope vide the training, is a better choice I'm re-introducing legislation fastest Largertax credits would be extendedto businessesthat focus on training individuals from desig- ficially designated federal disaster regions, wouldalsoqualifyfor thesehighertax credits. That's why I think legislation aimed at training workers these exceptional jobs by target high technologyis now one of the penses businesses incur training or retraining individuals to performthese important skills. nated this session to providetax credits of upto 20 percent — or a maxi- mum $6,000 per worker — forex- Price Effective Feb. 28 & Mar. 1 & 2, 1999. Sunday, Monday & Tuesday WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! | ted Living Community has been designed to assureprivacy, dignity, independence and The Wentworth Assi for nities for American workers. that will suffer Our owneconomic health as a nation will suffer as well, since Still, the industry's appetite for temptsto fill it. The U.S, Depart- dustry. highly skilled workers in the IT field, it's not only IT businesses newrecruits grows beyondall at- today that isn't fueled in some measure by the information in- that demand, without also taking Congress responded to such needs last year by authorizing an increase in the number ofvisas permittedfor foreign workers. jor industryin the UnitedStates We Know Getting the Best Care for Your Loved one Is Important To You Tax Credits for Training Workers Best Path for Tech Jobs FOR KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE Julie Hillmanis public aware ness manager for Envision Utai most stageinlife or incomelevel and strategy to accommodate our resi- available, Envision Utah will update its data to reflect any changes. We welcome further the qualityof life in the region for years to come state and municipality taxes As new information becomes to Utah’s birthrate. A strong economy is the greatest contributor to growth, affecting both inmigration and natural increase (in a poor economy, manypeople public consensus — that of how to prepare for future growth — therefore may havediverse housing needs. Oncewe haveeducated mation to the challenges we are facing that bear in mind the costs and benefits of those choices to peoplerealize and arenotlimited will not debate this issue but will punt that tions and locally relevant infor- borhoods. All of these decisions must be made with consideration of the resulting burden that might ultimately be borne through our birthrate. Population factors are As a community, we needto decide howto best provide theright mix of housing options for the current and future needs of our residents, taking into that critics offer more than criticism, that theyoffer feasible’solu- ability, as well as the quality of ourair andviability of our neigh- would somehowlimit Utah's desire and have the means to live in large homes on large lots will alwaysbe able to do so’ not everyone will beat the same scrutiny and public debate as an important part of the growth di cussion. However, we also sider water cost, usage and avail- the services will be you want and ne ed. Our professional staff py to meet with you to develop a care programdesigned just for your loved one. Our month-to-month rates includes: Three meals each day * Weekly housekeeping and linen service * Personal care and medication supervision Call us Orie Nae Cae * 24 Hour staffing * Recreational, social, spiritual and 485-0123 educational programs * Scheduled transportation * Cabletelevision & all utilities (except telephone) — ——. ie Aninvestment in America’s fu- WENTWORTH it’s one we'rewilling to take now ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY Sen. Kent Conrad is a thirdterm Democratic senator from North Dakota. @ 485-0123 1871 Eas 301 10 South * SLC THINKING Apour YouR PAA Think About WESTMINSTER COL L An undergraduatepreviewsession for adult andtransferstudents Thursday, March4, 1999 5:45 p.m. Jewett Center for the Performing Arts California Fresh Loose CALI 148. Strawberries ADMISSIONS AT 488-4200 FOR MORE INFORMATION TO LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING THE OFFICE OF Market Street 10-20 Ct, Large Tomatoes 9¢,, Sea Scallop 899, + 2390East 33rd South » 3981 South Wasatch Boulevard + 8650 South 1300 Bast + 2029 Bast 70th South +1960 South Foothill Boulevard * Park City nt 1600 Snow Crock Drive * And Now yeinerewe88 South Pairfleld Rood WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES. NO SMART THINKING | |
