Эксперт по развитию Гранд-Джанкшона призвал отказаться от паралича и выбрать прогресс в решении проблем жилья и транспорта

By DIANE SCHWENKE Lately, a few recurring themes in The Daily Sentinel have raised real concern. Week after week, “You Said It” comments warn against approving new housing subdivisions because of drought fears and the possibility of running out of water. More recently, a column criticized efforts to conduct advance planning for the 29 Road–Interstate 70 interchange, arguing that current transportation and multimodal needs should take priority. What troubles me is not the individual arguments themselves, but what they may signal: a growing tendency to look inward instead of forward. One of the qualities I’ve always admired about our community is our willingness to tackle challenges head-on. We innovate. We problem solve. We don’t shy away from the hard conversations. Take the idea that halting growth will somehow preserve our water supply. That might sound reasonable if you already own a home — but it ignores the reality facing thousands of others. The latest Grand Junction/Mesa County housing needs assessment shows we’ll need 7,000 additional housing units over the next decade. And any developer will tell you that securing approval for a new subdivision can take up to five years. Calling for a freeze on growth won’t solve our water challenges, and it certainly won’t make housing more affordable. Instead, we should be asking a better question: How do we grow smarter? How do we conserve water more effectively while still meeting the needs of current and future residents? That’s the kind of conversation that leads to a real vision — one that protects our resources, supports responsible development, and enhances quality of life. As for the 29 Road interchange, the column’s authors acknowledged some alternatives. But how realistic are those alternatives when it comes to reducing congestion? Express bus routes and expanded pedestrian and bicycle networks are valuable, but they won’t meaningfully shift traffic patterns when more than 75% of residents drive alone in their vehicles to work, fewer than 3% use public transportation and less than 0.5% ride a bicycle — numbers that have barely budged in two decades. This community looks ahead. I wasn’t here yet when the innovative and controversial idea arose regarding the rebuilding of Main Street. Rather than simply cutting down the curbs or building up the road surface a group of business and public officials thought big and Operation Foresight was born. I have read the historical documents and know that project did not enjoy unanimous support — and for the time period it was a major investment of public dollars. Ultimately that project led to Grand Junction being named an All-American City and today our downtown is consistently named as a top attraction by tourists. I was here and do remember when the Riverside Parkway was just an idea — and a controversial one at that. Yet while voters considered the bond measure, other transportation projects continued. And once the parkway was built, it sparked new businesses, housing, and outdoor amenities that strengthened our city and enriched daily life. That’s what happens when a community chooses progress over paralysis. We will always face immediate needs. But we also need to dream bigger — not just for today, but for the next 10 years and beyond. I’m encouraged that the City of Grand Junction will update its comprehensive plan in 2027, and I hope residents engage fully in shaping that plan and our joint future. In the meantime, let’s focus on what’s possible. Let’s resist the urge to throw up roadblocks and instead commit to thoughtful, forward looking solutions. Communities don’t stay still — they either grow or decline. And I believe most of us want to choose growth, guided by vision, planning, and optimism. Diane Schwenke is the former head of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. She is currently a governmental affairs consultant to the Grand Junction Realtors Association and Homebuilders of Western Colorado.