HomeHad 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 also recognized the importance of this area and purchased potential parkland on the other side of the property. The Brady property now blocks 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 this city’s river is an antiquated practice that has no place, nor justification, under any circumstances.
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. Business opportunities and real estate values will grow from the seeds of intelligently sowed assets within the community. Thoughtful city planning and forward thinking are critical to that end.
Clarity in this issue prevails when one realizes that the rights of the businessman or individual 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. Brady will find that property and make money selling this one.
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, vendors, bikers and throngs of people. Now envision the unbuffered noise, dust, odors and unsightly presence of a 24-hour-a-day neighboring trucking industry. 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?
source: http://www.gjfreepress.com