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He also has offered some provocative views about Ames' slow growth. What he has done invites analysis about why Ames/Story County has grown as it has and what public policies/programs could be used to change the situation.
Rather than contributing to such analysis Herman Quirmbach and Sue Ravenscroft (hereafter Ravingbach) choose to offer a Goldilocks view of Ames growth: not to slow, not to fast, just right!
How do we know? Because the writers tell us so, based on the values they choose for the community. They warn us that Ames must avoid "explosive" and "rapid" growth and seek moderate growth. I can assure anyone who sees this letter that Ames runs NO risk of explosive or rapid growth. That pretty much restricts the debate to slow versus moderate growth. I get confused: Who is on which side?
Instead of worrying about growth rates, why not do the following? First, change some things that need changing. The aquatic center is a good example: Ames has needed it for a long time; it was a long time coming.
The town-center railroad crossings are an abomination. That situation gets steadily worse. Why isn't something done? The fragmentation of farmers' markets is a farce. Why isn't one permit issued specifying location and frequency. The current situation lowers the volume of transactions and reduces overall buyer (satisfaction) and seller (profits) benefits.
Work out school district boundaries that do not create artificial enrollment declines. I'm sure anyone can come up with more examples of things that can be (more or less) readily changed.
On the long-term growth issue, public policies and agencies should establish safety and environmental protection rules, and undertake infrastructure investments that provide amenities make the community an attractive place to live.
More attention is needed to providing access to capital and ways to leverage the intellectual resources of the university and government research units. Beyond that, private investors and entrepreneurs should be left to make choices that determine the commercial character of Ames.
If those choices succeed, Ames will be a growing, vibrant community, which then in turn will attract other creative people and further growth.
What Ravingbach provides is a stirring defense of the status quo and a super-size helping of complacency. Your choice?
Lehman B. Fletcher
925 N Hyland Ave
Ames
