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WHY SI, THE THE BIGGER, BETTER? Colorado is growing - it is the 7th fastest growing state in the union - yet one can rightly ask. "Growing Into What?" In the last 10 years CoJor.ldo's population grew 25.8%. only l.::!% under California's rate for the same period. Historically, growth has been looked upon as an unqualified good, but recently the growth ethic has been severely challenged. Increasingly. people are asking who benefits when we "Sell Colorado"? Few of us want to live in another Los Angeles. Yct projections for the front range .show a MEGOPOUS extending from Fort Collins to Pueblo in a URBANIZATION FEW short years. The PROJECTIONS . Chamber of Commerce "tal nlellta1/y promotes tillS in- ==t;.'.,~ _ crease in industriJ:l growth - ft.., _ as providing "A growing f . tax base" as if it reduces ~ \<. ~e aV~~f~,~~~enci:~";:~ I~.-'I Commission justifies dig- ging into taxpayer's pockets because "it will, after all, promote Colo- rado." If more people and more industry meant lower taxes, surely Los , An!,oeles and New York would have the lowest per :t capita taxes.. They do not, lil. ...,- ..I . STATE PLANNING they have the highest. OFFICE Beyond a certain point, ,growth dot.'S not benefit the average citizen. Many areas, as the San Luis Valley, need growth, but the Front Range does not need growth to benefit the a...-.:rage ..::ituen. Growth may be beneficial to you if you own a lot of real estate, but for ALL of us it will mean our Jives will become more congested, more restrict('d, with less access to ret::reational facilities and we will be subjected to a more over-organized and dominant go\'emment. . ""== J, " ~ 4 THE COSTS OF GROWTH It 0 will also likely mean higher taxes. Stu~les are Showing that to a certain point, a city or other geographic area can utilize the ec~nomies of scale and provide services at a falfly Jow per capita cost. But contrary to popular notions. this process has its limits and beyond t.hose 1i~ts we are getting int~ wh~t .economl~ts are mcre~singJy recognizing as 0 dl~conomlcs of scale.' Beyond a Certain pomt m population growth there are NO cos.t ~vings derhoed from large scale economic ~ct1VJt.les, and yet the need for services lDtenSlfies. ln other words, there is a need ~6's .;