Stuart News
Rich Campbell: Never, I tell you! Never! (But don't hold me to that, OK?)

By RICH CAMPBELL
columnist
April 15, 2007

The "love" was flowing Wednesday during the Martin County Commission meeting on the Atlantic Ridge Preserve project.

Al Forman, one of dozens who spoke during public comment, rightfully characterized the proceedings as a "love-fest."

Who among us ever thought we'd see the day when Virginia Sherlock and former county commissioner Donna Melzer — both of whom steadfastly champion the slow-growth philosophy — would stand at the podium and praise Commissioner Lee Weberman — for anything? Ever?

But there they were, applauding Weberman for his painstaking efforts to solicit public opinion on Atlantic Ridge and singing the praises of this project.

They weren't alone. Others who normally start hyperventilating when the discussion turns to clustering and moving the urban services boundary also stepped forward and lauded the virtues of Atlantic Ridge, an innovative project that, among other things, will set aside 2,300 acres of prime, environmentally sensitive wetlands and uplands adjacent to Atlantic Ridge State Park in Hobe Sound. In exchange for this donation, the commission voted 4-1 to move the primary urban services boundary and allow the developer, Alberto Micha, to cluster 650 homes on 400 acres off Bridge Road.

Yes, the love was flowing Wednesday. But it wasn't the only quality oozing from the commission chambers. The hypocrisy of slow-growth advocates was like muck on the banks of the St. Lucie River: thick, deep and pervasive.

Take Melzer, who never misses an opportunity to write or speak out against clustering and attempts to move the urban services boundary.

In a Nov. 30, 2005, column ("Study threatens Martin County quality of life"), Melzer wrote: "All of the commissioners made promises they would not extend the urban services boundary. ... If the county allows clustered development and other urban uses outside the urban boundary, these will need sewer and water lines. ... Urban should stay urban, and rural should be rural. ... Don't allow clustering, don't allow urban uses, in the rural areas."

Then there's Commissioner Sarah Heard, who eagerly supported the Atlantic Ridge project. Like Melzer, Heard has made the urban services boundary the Holy Grail of her political philosophy.

In November 2005, the developer of the Old Plantation subdivision in south Martin County asked the commission to allow water and sewer utilities for the 39-house project. Heard's reaction to the request? "If it's outside the urban service boundary, it's not a predicament for me," she said. "We don't provide urban services outside the urban service district."

For the record, the primary urban services boundary will be moved, clustering will be allowed, and water and sewer lines will be extended into the secondary urban services boundary as part of the Atlantic Ridge project.

The hypocrisy is getting awful deep here.

We learned last week that the slow-growthers are not absolutists (unwavering, uncompromising) in their opposition to clustering and moving the urban services boundary. For them the end (obtaining a large tract of highly prized conservation land) justifies the means (clustering, moving the urban services boundary). Melzer, Heard and others can rationalize, obfuscate and object all they want. But the truth is, they endorsed a project that moves the boundary and allows cluster development.

We learned something else Wednesday: which commissioners have principles, and which don't.
Heard belongs in the latter category — for reasons stated above. Commissioner Michael DiTerlizzi belongs in the former.

DiTerlizzi vowed in 2000 never to move the urban services boundary. And despite his strong approval of the Atlantic Ridge project, he kept his promise and cast the lone dissenting vote.

The overarching lesson here? Never say never.

But if you do, have the courage to remain true to your principles.

rich.campbell@scripps.com