What is growth? In humans, growth is a process of development leading to a mature adult. Growth occurs primarily during infancy and adolescence, and serves a useful structural or metabolic function. Growth can also be induced intentionally, for example by weightlifting (or by indulging in too much of Aunt Thelma's delicious pumpkin pie!).
Growth normally occurs only up until a predetermined genetic limit. A mouse will never get to be as large as an elephant, or a hummingbird as big as an eagle. Creatures that grow beyond their normal size are the stuff of horror and science fiction movies: Godzilla, Starship Troopers, and the like.
But there is another kind of growth that is abnormal and destructive. It serves no useful function, and occurs to the detriment of its host. We have a name for this kind of growth: cancer.
Cities also grow and develop. However, we have no words for the process. Perhaps cities have no phases of growth, no natural limits. Maybe they just keep getting steadily bigger until they are as large as New York or L.A.
Let us borrow our human words for a moment. Is it possible that cities experience infancy, adolescence, and maturity? Do they have a predefined genetic size? What happens when they exceed that size, or if growth proceeds out of control?
The recent report by the Wadley-Donovan Group is an interesting case in point. (Published on November 6, it was titled “Locational Assessment of Asheville/Buncombe County, NC”.) This study looked at the problems we currently have in Asheville, and produced a list of recommendations to address them. In essence, the study suggests that continued growth is the answer to Asheville's problems.
I agree that we have some real problems here, which need to be looked at and solved. However, I also happen to think that our problems are outweighed by our strengths.
Asheville, currently, is in many ways a very desirable city. It has a wide variety of cultural and social offerings. It consistently ranks near the top on lists ranking metropolitan quality of life.
Maybe Asheville, today, is the size it was meant to be. Maybe any further growth would jeopardize all the things I like about it: the neighborliness, the sense of community, the affordable housing, the easy commute, the local character of events and festivals.
If that's true, then Asheville's continued growth would be like a cancer. And the Wadley-Donovan report would take on a whole new meaning. Just for fun, let's see what happens if we substitute the word "cancer" for the word "growth" in their report:
The [Asheville/Buncombe County] area was seen to have a lot of potential for a unique form of economic development that could accommodate cancer and retain its physical beauty and cultural diversity.One of the ‘threats’ mentioned in the report is acrimony between local governments: “In 1995 city and county governments cooperated with each other. Today WDG finds a surprising level of distrust and unwillingness to cooperate between these two groups. This gap must be closed if the area is to meet its challenges.”The problem (i.e. the confusing and contradictory opinions about the area's regulatory environment...) has been festering for an extended period. It was noted as one of the primary cancer inhibitors in the 1995 report.
For now, the area is still attractive. However, the potential for sustainable cancer that retains the area's attractive qualities is under threat.
But a similar gap was intentionally designed into our federal government. The Constitution mandates a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. This was done to insure that important decisions are made with due deliberation, and without any one branch usurping control. Such a scheme unavoidably leads to delays and lively debate, but it is the democratic way.
Some may say that the Asheville area has had enough of delay and lively debates. It’s time to get on with the business of growth, and the growth of business. Of course, it is entirely possible that continued growth would be the best thing that ever happened to the Asheville area. We may all thank the Chamber of Commerce for their foresight in commissioning and heeding the Wadley-Donovan report.
But first, let's decide if growth is really what we want. We can predict the effects of growth by looking at historical trends for the area. The city of Asheville has hardly changed in population over the past seven years: it increased only about 1%. In contrast, Buncombe County shot up by over 10% during the same period. The county was home to 192,784 people last year, which is about 18,000 more than in 1990. At that rate, we'll add another 20,000 people by the year 2004. If we pursue growth aggressively, that number may double to 40,000 people. And all these new people will certainly have a need for new services, in the city as well as the county. How many more houses, schools, libraries, post offices and shopping malls will we need to accommodate them?
Try this: make a list of three things that make the Asheville area a
desirable place to live. Now ask yourself how those things will be affected
by 40,000 more people. Will they get better, stay the same, or get worse?