Walsh: Balancing Economic Prosperity with Our Rural Character

(Larry Walsh) – To my fellow Douglas County residents:

Since moving to the County almost 25 years ago, I’ve come to truly appreciate not only the people, but also the unique setting – wide fields, meandering river, rustic ranches as well as modern dwellings in close knit communities, all inside the encircling majestic mountains and gentle hills of the Carson Valley. The abundant outdoor recreation opportunities of the Sierra and Lake Tahoe are unmatched.

I moved here for work and I stayed because life is extraordinarily good here.  And I don’t want that to change.  But as in many places in this day and age, there are those who see “progress” in terms of adding bigger buildings, increasing density, and accommodating trendy concepts.  Unfortunately, pursuing those goals (which usually make money for “special interests”) too often ends up costing the taxpayers dearly.

I am running for County Commissioner out of a desire to serve the people of this county and to guard against missteps that can lead to the transformation of what we most treasure for its beauty and relaxed environment into a hustle-bustle, bumper-to-bumper, cookie-cutter municipality.

The County has a shield in place to make sure development or growth doesn’t cause any negative impact.  That shield is the Master Plan.  I’m a strong advocate for this document.  Because we have a Master Plan, we have thousands of acres of open space, a sensible traffic flow, and areas especially suited for residential or commercial development.  I would have voted “No” on the Corley Farmstead Master Plan Amendment.  Creating a development right where none exists on the Master Plan should require exigent circumstances.  There were none.

A few years back, I was a partner in a residential development project in the midst of the Carson Valley.  The Master Plan designated our land as a “Receiving Area,” so we had the green light.  Finding and purchasing Development Rights (TDRs) came next.  As luck would have it, a rancher had TDRs to sell at a fair price, and we easily garnered the County’s blessing.  The end result of all of this was a beautiful new neighborhood of homes on 30 acres and almost 2,000 acres of land set aside for conservation (which is an essential part of how the TDR program functions).  Equally important was that the ranching family received a tremendous monetary benefit that has enabled their ranch to thrive into today. The Master Plan did its job.  We tailored our development in concert with the guidelines in place.

Yet, just as was the case with the Corley Farmstead proposal, tremendous pressure has been put forward to deviate from or find ways to do an end run around the Master Plan.  My opponent has played a key role in several of these efforts.  His record as a Planning

Commissioner shows that he favors utility scale solar facilities on agricultural land (prohibited in the Master Plan) in the center of the valley and supports the gravel pit scheme proposed for the East Valley, despite the hundreds of heavy duty trucks that would barrel down a road within yards of people’s homes. His name would be on the “I-don’t-care-much-about-what-the-Master-Plan-says” list.  My priority — doing what’s best for all of the residents of the County — clearly is not his. On the other hand, I am truly a “private property rights” guy.  If a landowner has a right to develop his or her land, then I say go for it and be successful.

I see other issues, too, that need an advocate.  Our roads, for example, are in urgent need of attention.  I know this well because I served on the Road Funding Task Force.  The pattern seems to be a lot of talk about the problem, which leads to a search for a funding source, which leads to a tax, which leads to revenue being made available to the County, which leads to a little of the money being spent on roads and most of the money being used for something else.  I would vigorously fight against this.  As a County Commissioner, I would see to it that all revenues collected on the promise to fix our roads would be used to fix our roads.  Not some “new” initiative.  Not on my watch.  There’s that “priorities” thing again.  “Special interests” have been given far too much sway.

And speaking of taxes:  this valley (perhaps, one could say our entire State) seems to be on a taxing binge.  I come from the conservative side of the tracks.  Where I live the idea is to keep as much money in the taxpayers’ pockets as possible.  I’ve signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.  I will not vote for any new taxes without the say-so of the voters at the ballot box.

I have other goals I want to accomplish as Commissioner:  Solving flooding problems, addressing water and sewer management, instituting cost-saving measures at the county level, and calling for more transparency all around.  We must also encourage small businesses, attract clean and green industry to fill our already approved industrial centers, and help the valley’s ranchers develop suitable agricultural alternatives to diversify their income. I’d be happy to discuss any of these, or any other issue about which you have a concern.  Just give me a call.

I look forward to getting your vote and being your Commissioner.  Together, we can build a bright and balanced future for Douglas County.

Larry Walsh is vying for Douglas County Commissioner. For more information, visit his website at www.WalshForDC.com.