Had the city of Grand Junction the means to continue the vision and hard-fought efforts of many of its prominent citizens, it might have purchased the property that Brady Trucking now owns. It did not.

The city did, however, envision and plan for a substantial riverfront park and botanical gardens — what will arguably become the crown jewel of the city. The state has recognized the importance of this area and purchased potential parkland directly on the other side of the Brady Trucking property.

The Brady property is now blocking an established green corridor along the river – and efforts to rescue the riverfront from years of neglect and abuse. Errors of the past should not be endorsed by repeating them. Allowing industrial zoning on the river is an anachronism. It is an antiquated practice that has no place, nor justification, under any circumstances in this city today.

Brady Trucking purchased this valuable property at a bargain because it was a piece of land that had not yet been rescued in the riverfront revitalization movement. There were no givens or guarantees, only assumptions, in the liberties that they would have to develop this property. The city had to annex the land from the county and zoning guarantees could not be part of that transaction. Brady Trucking rolled the dice, even knowing that they were bordering a prime piece of parkland in the city’s master plan.

Once the zoning is established on this property, it may never be reversed. Brady Trucking will not be forever. Who will follow them on this property? The door will someday be open for an even less compatible tenant. The city and the river are, relatively speaking, forever. The vision we have for their future directly impacts the vitality of the landscape and the desirability for businesses to move here and people to live here.

The position of the Chamber of Commerce and others on this issue is understandably clouded. It is a complicated thing.  However, clarity prevails when one realizes that the rights of the businessman or individual in this case are trumped by the rights and vision of the city and its citizens. It is a matter of serving the greater good. Brady’s investment in purchasing and improving the property was a calculated risk. There are much more appropriate places for their business. We can’t expect Brady Trucking to embrace the same visions that we have, but they will surely find another property and make money on the sale of this one.

Business opportunities and real estate values will grow from the seeds of intelligently sowed assets within the community. The fear that citizens will discourage businesses and land owners in this town because of random efforts to change zoning is unfounded. Thoughtful city planning and forward thinking are the remedy for that concern. You have an opportunity to share your own vision at the upcoming Public Open House for the Draft Comprehensive Plan at Two River’s Convention Center on December 16th and 17th from 4-7PM. Help to design the blueprint for the Valley’s future landscape. Hope for a green river corridor through the entire valley.

For those who are still conflicted on this issue, perhaps it would lend greater clarity to the argument if we leapt a few years ahead and placed ourselves smack in the middle of a fully developed Las Colonias Park and Botanical Gardens complex. Envision a beautiful riverfront park alive with recreational activities, cultural events, an amphitheater, vendors, bikers and throngs of people. Now envision the unbuffered noise and dust and odors and unsightly presence of a neighboring trucking industry – perhaps a 24-hour-a day operation.

What an embarrassing prospect to think that the planners and citizens of this city discarded the chance to thwart such an unlikely union. How many second chances will there be?

DAVID CALE
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 at 11:42 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.