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Show THEZEPHYRSEPTEMBER 1990 PAGE 22 the public lands watchdog Kokopelli Theatre Update the BLM, In conjunction with the University of Utah, conducted scoping hearings for the proposed Kokopelli National Theatre of the Arts. The Intent of the meeting was to solicit comments and concerns for the proposal, and a crowd of at least thirty residents turned out to participate In the process. The problem many of the participants had In addressing their concerns Is that no one Is exactly sure what the proposal Is. Geoffrey Panos, speaking on behalf of the project for the U of U, described a theatre that was so unobtrusive, "one doesnt know hes In It until he's there, and discussed the application of natural features and the natural acoustics of the rocks to enhance performance sound. Yet, he also spoke of an enclosed stage, and noted that opera would require a humidified stage - desert air Is too dry for the operatic voice. He suggested that different types of music (chamber music, full symphony, etc.) required a different type of acoustic. How this can be accomplished by utilizing the natural rock amphitheatre Is unclear. Whether the theatre would be enclosed and what the seating capacity might be remained unanswered questions. The BLM uses a procedure called the Nominal Group Process to solicit comment Attendants at the meeting are broken Into smaller groups, who first consider and record the points they want to make, and then share those Issues with each other. The advantage of Nominal Group Process Is that It allows everyone an opportunity to speak. But because the Process Is so structured and regimented, It tends to stifle any creative exchange of Ideas between participants. When the round robin portion of the Process goes as planned, each member of the group expresses a concern In as few words as possible, with no discussion at all. It would be to everyone's advantage If the BLM could find a way to open up these sessions so that the group can openly trade thoughts and Ideas. At the end of the meeting, all the Issues raised by the various groups were recorded on large flip sheets and posted for review. The BLM Is currently considering those Ideas and hopefully they will be available for publication In the next Issue. However, It was ic clear that the nebulous and undefined nature of the project, the Impacts, the cost and environmental concerns were major Issues to be resolved before the project On August 2, socio-econom- can proceed. -- Jim Stiles Looking Ahead... Grand County in Five Years commonly reappearing theme In many of Moabs civic and public agency meetings has been: what will the appearance and feeling of our area be In the years ahead. While not always labelled as such, this Is In fact what much of the dialogue Is about Compared to what may be about to happen, the earlier years of grazing, mining, have left the lands relatively unscathed. Much healing of the land and open has occurred since the mining boom subsided. With the wave of Industrial tourism beginning to break upon us, what changes will be Involved and how permanent will any effects be? Will the land be able to again heal Itself If this boom passes? The trampling of the land by many human feet and vehicles may also In time heal. Of more serious and long lasting concern Is In what manner and degree Increased development of the land occurs. Housing tracts, subdivisions, second home sites these effects will remain Indefinitely. A four-wheeli- ng Vote For A. DAN HOLYOAK Republican Candidate For GRAND COUNTY COMMISSIONER As development spreads out from Moab, Its Impact upon our visual, scenic resources will Increase rapidly. Do we want the Colorado River corridor to have miles of houses and cabins and house trailers along the river bank? Will the "Dally become a float trip through a subdivision? Will the panoramic vistas around Moab be afflicted by obtrusive human structures on the skyline above us? Will visitors enter the national parks through housing developments or other commercial projects? These are all possible at the present time! Currently, various public agencies and Individuals are still struggling with these difficult Issues. A sampling follows: Grand County Planning Commission Our county Planning and Zoning Commission has been struggling valiantly these months few past trying to decide whether to recommend a zoning change to commercial C--3 zoning for a large RV park development at Cato Bottom (about a half mile above Dewey Bridge). This will be the first major commercial development between Moab and Cisco on the Colorado River Corridor. In brief, the development: 1) would Include gas station, stores and other entertainment developments; 2) Is located In a less crucial area than If It were out In the from the road to allow open vistas of Professor Valley; 3) would Involve a 200 ft set-bafuture landscaping between commercial structures and the highway; 4) could Involve a visual buffer strip along the river so that boaters dont have to look at an RV park. There k, Is concern that without the 200 ft. there might be curio shops and obtrusive the buildings right along highway. Meanwhile, the developer claims he would put most of the RV sites down In the big cottonwood grove where their visual Impact would be reduced. Since this zoning change Is marginally legal at best, the Commission would be to listen If you wish to toss out any Ideas. This will also be a good time to let the willing Commission know If you value the scenic quality of the river corridor. A zoning change hearing has been set for September 17th at 7 p.m. at the Commission chambers. ck set-bac- Another zoning project being undertaken by the County Planning Commission Is to consider creating several new zoning categories that might be more appropriate for the Important scenic areas and corridors leading Into Moab. These might Include the river corridor between Moab and Dewey Bridge (dally stretch) and the Sandflats area (H the land exchanges fall). New zoning categories may also be explored for the developments surrounding the golf course. This Is difficult work trying to balance private land ownership rights and the Importance of these scenic resources to Grand County and trying to find a combination allowing development to occur without substantially damaging our visual resources. For Instance, do we want the Colorado River lined with subdivisions, housing tracts, house trailers, and the clutter of other human construction? Or shall we allow the people who next come to this area the opportunity to experience what Is probably the most scenically spectacular dally river trip In this country, without the degradation of buildings. Blue Ribbon Road Committee The Blue Ribbon Road Committee Is trying to decide how to manage the tidal wave of campers along the river corridor (Dewey Bridge to Kane Springs and Potash), and along Highway 191 and Seven Mile Canyon. In recent years, damage during the period surrounding the spring college breaks, Easter Jeep Safari, and the spring mountaln-blkln- g rush has alarmed much of this community. While sanitation problems could be solved with toilets, the more serious concern Is whether we want to have "strip camping ghettos all along these roads, with the accompanying large amount of resource damage. (In places, even the tamarisk seems to be succumbing to the torrent of tourists.) Currently, options being discussed by the BRRC Involve construction of several "standard campgrounds, possibly at Big Bend and Hlttle Bottom on the river corridor, and another In the Sandflats area. These campgrounds would provide toilets, with a minimum of other facilities (probably no water). Many of the presently existing campsites would be closed to camping, and would again be available as "day use areas. Group areas and overflow areas would be needed. Information boards and even brochures would help campers find commercial camp parks If more than bare minimum facilities were desired. The unaddressed problem Is where will the rest of the overflow go? Will we actually Increase damage by displacing the overflow crowds out Into areas that have so far been only lightly damaged? No solution has yet been offered that resolves more than a few aspects of the problem. Local Land Trust Another approach to protecting scenic, visual resources Is to form a local land trust that could pursue private solutions such as purchasing scenic conservation easements, acquiring land (probably short term), facilitating land exchanges between government agencies, and many other techniques available to land trusts. Nature Conservancy Is probably the most well known national land trust, but would not directly be of help to us In the type of land problem we will be confronted with more and more frequently In the coming years. Several of us have Just begun looking Into forming a local land trust Anyone Interested In helping us or learning more about this approach to protecting land, please call 5. Jack at 259-511- State Lands general concern about state lands Is that many of the panoramic vistas around Moab that we value so highly are threatened by the sale of state lands. So far, very little development and construction has occurred on state lands that significantly affects our major vistas. Were these lands to be developed and "contaminated with houses, the spectacular panoramas would be lost forever. Another problem with no solution so far. A During my 12 years as a Grand County Commissioner, I gained considerable insight into negotiating and cooperating with Big Government. I support industry for our area, but not at the expense of our environment. Vote on September 11,1 990 Publ'c Involvement None of these Issues has been decided yet some are only In the earliest stages of discussion. Since some proposed solutions to date resolve only limited aspects of the problems, other Ideas and suggestions would be welcomed. . Come on out and Join the fun. There are lots of subjects to enjoy wrestling with: private enterprise vs. public agencies; who decides what Is "for the Public Good; whose sense of aesthetics Is "correct; should people be told what they can do with their own land; Is someone's yard filled with "trash" or "treasure; which Is the True Doctrine of Multiple Use, etc. Lots of fun for everyone and all sides need to be represented to have good discussions and to reach comprehensive solutions. Contributing Ideas In these meetings Is one of the effective ways of being Involved and "voting on our future. -- Jack Campbell |
