Urban growth thins many resources The Portage County and Stevens Point Urban Area Comprehensive Planning Program is starting to look into the continuing problem of urban sprawl. Recipients of a $504,000 "Smart Growth" grant from the state of Wisconsin, the program wants to address the situation of a creeping urban area into the rural region. One need only drive through the countryside to see the expanded growth of homes. Where once were forests and fields, houses or hobby farms have popped up. Many dream of "country" living and save to realize their dream, building a new residence in the rural region. With that growth comes problems. Many expect to have the same quality of life and services they had in the urban area, expecting roads to be cleared of snow and ice quickly so they can get to work in the morning. They also expect to reach work quickly, despite the added miles they now have to travel. The additional traffic requires new roads to handle increased volume, chewing up more land for concrete pathways and disrupting the "country" life that so many sought by moving outside the city. The irony of the situation is those who seek the solace of country living are disrupting that life by moving into the rural area in the first place. Additional or upgraded highways wouldn't be necessary if people weren't moving into natural areas. One dilemma for the "Smart Growth" study is the plight of farmers. For years, generations of families worked on the family farm, nurturing a love of nature. Now, many children of farmers are abandoning the farm and commuting to the urban area for jobs. They feel those jobs provide vacation and fringe benefits without the need to be up early each morning to milk cows or perform other chores. They may retain a portion of the homestead for a house. Others may want nothing to do with the farm and move away, leaving the aging farmer with a valuable tract of land and little or no retirement funds. Thus, the farmer realizes selling the property is the retirement funding necessary for the "golden" years. However, not many younger people are interested in going into farming, leaving the farmer with the decision of getting the most money for property, which often means selling for development. The "Smart Growth" planning isn't going to solve the expansion of urban areas. Hopefully, the growth can be controlled in targeted areas so they don't drain resources and lead to more concrete pathways through the countryside. - Gene Kemmeter