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Show PAGE 8 THE ZEPHYR SEPTEMBER 1991 the mayor speaks stocks an interview with tom Ken Davey conducted an Interview with Mayor Tom Stocks. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. Zephyr: What ere the Important things going on right now In the city? Tom: Everything going on in the city ia important I hope people are Interested In reviewing the algn ordinance. It'a a draft prepared by Individuals. We've had a petition with conceme over Kerne in the draft, and those concerns ought to be brought back to the city council's attention. There ought to be some modifications. Zephyr: When the city discussed an ordinance more than a year ago, a planner from Durango came here and reviewed the successes and pitfalls of their sign ordinance. One of the major points she made was that an ordinance cannot grandfather skins. meaning It can't allow out of compliance signs to continue. Yet In their dlacuaaiona here . dty council members have done just that Tom: I don't know that we've come to a final decision on that I know there were considerations of monetary reimbursement for people having expensive signs, and all five council members spoke, saying they do not feel city taxpayers should pay remuneration. So grandfathering was discussed as an alternative. The sign ordinance has some things that were quite restrictive, and I believe at this time those things may be overkill. There are some good points in the ordinance, I hope the council does take the things that will negatively affect the community in say 10 years and not allow them. The things that are trivial, like a sign in the window, I could care less. Those little things, why be picky? Zephyr: But there are the major things: the size of signs, the height, the number of signs allowed on a property. Tom: And the quality of the signs. Zephyr: But the sign ordinance doesn't really address quality. Tom: In Durango, there is a review committee made up of business people. One of those people was an artist doing conceptual signs to help people come up with quality. I would hope here they would incorporate that into the ordinance. Zephyr: It's one thing to set up a committee to help people come up with "quality'' and another to tell people what the quality is. aigns, Tom: It ought to be support from the city, having someone available to give direction. Zephyr: Are you In favor of grandfathering in the large signs? Tom: I don't know if we have a lot of large signs. Youre talking about height I only know of one large sign, the Landmark. The owner has agreed that he would be willing to work toward moving to a small sign. He was on the sign committee. Zephyr: You mention a petition against an Initial draft. Why was there so much hostility to the sign committee? Tom: ft started out and took ail the things to be dealt with all at once. You change a person 'a life style in a few minutes, you upset people. "You can't smoke. You can't wear glassea anymore, you have to wear contacts." You can't turn people around like that, you have to allow people time to appreciate the value of the things you are promoting. Zephyr: The city Is presenting a draft of a new comprehensive plan. Why come up with one now? Tom: We now have one In place from the late 1960s. Its only good business to It's nothing new, It's an ongoing obligation of governing bodies to see that we move plan. to developing In an organized fashion, try to eliminate things that cause problems. If you build in flood areas, you are asking for trouble. There are things In the plan, such as read configurations for safety. Just recently we've had a lot of accidents on Highway 191 at the bowling alley, simply because the road was so narrow. With master planning, you try to move traffic away from areas where there's a possibility of accidents. Zephyr: Things have changed here In the last few years. How much of that has to do with political decisions made, and how much Is due to factors outside of our control? Tom: I would say over 90 percent has to do with hitting the right thing at the right time, by accident or planning. The mountain bike people In the community got the news out to magazines throughout the world, and that brought a lot of people here, and on top of that, with tourism, things came. It wasn't planned by government Government Is service oriented, we're not Investors. Zephyr: The City Council wrote a letter to Congressman Bill Orton regarding plans for water projects, particularly a dam, along Mill Creek. As I read the letter, ft basically said the city wants to keep Its options open as to whether a dam would be a good Idea. Is that what you wanted to say? Tom: Yes, that's what I wanted to say. I can't answer for the council members. Zephyr: Does that mean you are against Mill Creek Canyon being designated wilderness? have a feeling that consideration for future development In this area Is dependent upon the ability to develop resources and providing services. I know there is a feeling out here that we don't want over so many people. I don't know what we do, whether we start shooting them or put up barricades, or what It Is we do to stop the number of people coming in. We have 4,000 as of 1990 in the city, and 7,000 in the county. What if we go to 35,000 people in the valley here, and you make that wilderness? It's ok to take the water from below there, but If you go up above and start developing the water to feed the valley, that's a no no. I don't have any problem with having wilderness, I think it's great But it seems a little Irresponsible to cut off our options, to say, no, we won't dam the water above ft. Once you put the wilderness in, you can't dam the water above It That's not an option you have. So as an elected official, don't you think I have a responsibility to say, let's leave our options open? Zephyr: So would It be Irresponsible for Congress to set up Mill Creek Canyon as a wilderness area? Tom: Its tough to give a yes or no answer to that All I'm saying Is it would be Irresponsible on my part as a mayor to say yes, go ahead and do It, without understanding what is happening In the community over the next 5 years. What If we have the largest oil reserve in the Paradox Basin, and we go to 35,000 people in the valley because of that? And then we can't develop the water, and we don't have enough water supply? Yes, then ft may have been an irresponsible act, looking after the fact Looking ahead, I don't have a crystal ball. But because I don't, I think the option ought to be left open. Zephyr: So In this case, leaving the option open becomes an point Tom: I anti-wildern- ess zeke and maralee frands Four Corners Design (across from the post office) FIRE SALE! (we burned up our van) oldest irt shop in moab estb. 1980 |
