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Sprawl reduces happiness

A Mason-Dixon poll shows Virginians' depth of concern about rampant growth.

Date published: 2/3/2003

By LARRY EVANS

HERE's a question for you: "What is the most important and unique thing about the region where you live that contributes to your and your families' quality of life?"

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research posed that question two weeks ago to 300 residents of six Piedmont localities--the cities of Fredericksburg and Charlottesville and the counties of Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper and Albemarle.

The answer chosen by 47 percent of the respondents from a list of five categories was the small town and rural setting of where they live.

Another 31 percent chose the region's natural resources, environment and natural beauty.

So, if the results of the poll reflect reality, a total of 77 percent of residents believe the region's long-standing character--its towns, farms, rivers and woodlands--is integral to the quality of their lives.

The other categories were schools/education (15 percent); economy/jobs/economic development opportunities (2 percent); and cultural, shopping and entertainment opportunities (1 percent).

Unfortunately, the region's character is destroyed daily as population growth spawns ill-planned housing and commercial developments.

Corridors of sprawl fan out from cities and towns. Farms disappear, and tracts of woodland along highways fall like dominoes. As a result, traffic gets heavier, air dirtier and the pace of life faster and more frustrating.

Quality of life, in other words, declines.

I occasionally hear from people who like the changes.

Daily I hear complaints.

Are there still some local and state politicians aware of the rising wave of discontent? If so, their chances of re-election might improve if they read the poll results.

Voters were asked: "How important a factor will a candidate's position on growth, land use and curbing sprawl be in your decision on whom you vote for in the next local and statewide election?"

Ninety-two percent of the respondents in the Fredericksburg-to-Charlottesville region said it would be an important factor. Eight percent said growth issues would not be an important issue for them.

No other region had a higher percentage of people saying growth issues will be an important consideration the next time they walk into the voting booth. Statewide, 81 percent of those telephoned said growth would be an important issue.

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Date published: 2/3/2003