Growing pains

Editorial
March 26, 2001

Senate Democrats came together last week to pass their version of a smart-growth bill, SB S148, on an 18-17 party line vote. Republicans, who controlled the Senate with an iron grip for 38 consecutive years, are now whining that they are shocked, shocked, at this display of partisanship. We urge the GOP to stop singing "Cry me a river" and start improving their own growth bill, HB 1225, in the Republican-controlled House.

At this point, both bills have considerable merit - but both also have substantial flaws. SB 148 goes too far in mandating comprehensive planning in every hamlet in Colorado, including sections of the state that are stagnant or losing population. HB 1225 wisely exempts 38 rural, sparsely populated counties from that mandate. But HB 1225 is fatally flawed because it has no provision for regional planning. SB 148 does require regional planning in the Denver Metropolitan area, the necessary minimum for any smart-growth bill.

If SB 148 is amended to exempt small cities and counties from bigcity requirements, The Post could support it. Likewise, we could support HB 1225 if it is amended to support Denver-area regional planning.

That's not to suggest that these two issues are the only areas in which backers of the two bills could learn from each other. HB 1225 probably allows too much development outside of designated urban growth areas and SB 148 too little. There are many other ways that these two almost-acceptable bills could be melded into an excellent one. But unless the warring parties start thinking of the good of the state instead of their own egos, both measures will likely be killed.

The good news is that Sen. Ed Perlmutter, D-Lakewood, and Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, are co-sponsors of both bills - and both seem genuinely committed to passing an acceptable smart-growth act. The danger is that their more hot-headed colleagues might spurn their advice in favor of partisan tantrums.If the lawmakers refuse to compromise their differences and adjourn without passing a smart-growth bill, we urge Gov. Owens to call them back into a special session and order them to try again. Otherwise, voters will again be forced to the initiative route. And next time, a $6 million negative campaign might not be enough to thwart the people's will.