LAND USE

DEVELOPMENT

I see development all around.

Is there a Master Plan somewhere that the Developers

must follow and that will make some sense of it all? Or are

they free to continue on, without restrain, and regardless of

the consequences of their actions? When will it end? Must

every tree be cut down, must every open space be filled

up with more buildings? Will we take away everything that

is natural and replace it with an endless spread of

Shopping Malls, Housing Developments and the busy

congestion of more people and cars?

We have lost something precious in this mad rush to build.

We were once Innocent, living in harmony with Nature, our

Spirits running free in an Unspoiled Wilderness.

Look at us now!

Caught in a virtual state of captivity, with our senses

dulled and our lives made antiseptic by our in-door life

styles, we have been made -Less- by all of this growth.

We have lost touch with our own basic instincts and we

are now "out of sync" with Nature. It is high price to pay

for the progress of our "development."

THIS LAND

The individuals right to build upon and develop their own

property must be restricted for the Common Good.

This Country, this sacred piece of land, does not belong to

any one individual nor to any limited group, it is all apart of

our Collective Heritage. In order to preserve our Heritage

for Future Generations, it is the duty of all responsible Public

Organizations, such as our State and Federal Governments,

to set restrictions on Development and to insist upon their

compliance.

Our Heritage is too important to ignore, and too valuable to

be sold to the Highest Bidder. This land belongs collectively

to us all. To "The People." This Land is our Land, for now, and

ever more.

OUR HOME

There is a chance for co-operation.

We could have greater harmony between the demand for

growth and the desire for conservation if we would take the

responsibility for Development away from the local Govern-

ments and entrust it to our State and Federal authorities. All

the basic requirements of the Building Codes can be made

Standard, and uniform thru out the land, when set by these

higher authorities. This "over view" would help to bring order

to the local Development Programs, and it would also en-

courage a better land management of our whole Country.

Imagine, if you would; green belts criss-crossing the entire

Nation; Nature Preserves of the different types of environ-

ments; such as Prairies, Mountains, Forests, Wet Lands,

Deserts, and Shorelines; plus our State and National Parks

made bigger and integrated with our Rural Communities,

Ranches, and Farm Lands; -- a Society living in harmony with

Nature!

How wonderful.

Imagine seeing all of our Cities being guided by planned

Development, the elimination of Slums, and blighted areas,

a whole Nation of pleasant Neighborhoods for us to live in,

enjoy, and raise our Families.

It does not have to be only a Vision, it could become a Reality.

We need State and Federal regulation to control Development

and to make our Country a place to be proud of once again. Not

just some place to live in, but a beloved Home Land, cherished

and dear to us all, our own sweet Home.

THE WETLANDS

The Wetlands; meaning those Swamps, Marshes, Deltas,

Shorelines, and other Areas; that are next to our Water Ways,

are vital to the health of our Environment. They help to prevent

Drought, Dust Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, Erosion, and De-

Forestation. (Plus -- they also provide a Place of Shelter and

Breeding Grounds for most Water Fowl.)

They act like a giant Sponge to trap and hold Water during the

Rain and Snow Seasons and then slowly release it during the

Dryer Months and in so doing, they help to stabilize the Earths'

natural flow of Water and reduce the effects of Climate Change.

These Areas need to be protected from Development and

Pollution and allowed to remain in their Natural State. For the

Health and Well Being of our Planet, we should;

1 Establish Borders of, at least, 1 Kilometer wide -- that are free

of Development -- along side all (natural) Water Ways; to include

all Creeks, Streams, Rivers, Ponds, Water Falls, Lakes, and

Oceans. This Border should be extended to 5 Kilometers wide in

all Flood Plains. (Man made Water Ways; to include all Fountains,

Water Falls, Ponds, Lakes, and Reservoirs; should be exempt

from the Border requirements.)

2 Prohibit the use of all Phosphate Fertilizers within a 10

Kilometer distance of all Water Ways.

3 Prohibit "Factory Farms" (where they raise Poultry), and "Stock

Yards" (where they process Live Stock); within a 10 Kilometer

distance of all Water Ways.

4 Prohibit the establishment of all Factories and Manufacturing

Plants within a 5 Kilometer distance of all Water Ways.

5 Prohibit all Nuclear Power Plants within a 5 Kilometer distance

of all Water Ways.

6 Ban the use of all un-coated Lead, Shot Gun, Pellets. (Pellets

made of Steel, or are Steel Plated, or are Copper Coated could

be used to replace the un-coated Lead Pellets.)

7 Restrict all man made constructions (except for Roads, Walk

Ways, Bridges, Piers, Harbors, Dams, Golf Courses, Picnic

Grounds, Rest Rooms, and open air Auditoriums within 1

Kilometer of all Water Ways.

Dams can be removed when they are no longer needed --

(to provide Power or to store a Fresh Water Supply.)

Single Family Dwellings that are built upon a natural Cliff, of

at least 5 Meters in Height above the Water Way, should be

exempt from this restriction.

If we care about our Planet and want to maintain the integrity of

its Water Ways, then we should do what is necessary to shield

them. The ideas offered in this Program are modest in the

requirements they would impose on us but the benefits they

would bestow on our Ecological Systems would be great, and

well worth the inconvenience they might cause.

They would protect our Wetlands, and help to stabilize our

Climate.