Same image comes to mind, as, after the Baylor-Penn State NIT game ended and I tuned in a Ramsey Planning Commission public hearing.

They were yammering both sides of the swamp buffer question. One side wants the buffer, the other wants it gone, strangely the latter group are large tract owners in the north end, thinking they've got something worth something, etc.

This image, again -



Jumbled nonsense about science, from the land owners. Noxious weeds mentioned. Unconstitutional some said, none being expert constitutional lawyers, experienced, judges, jurists, law faculty, scholars, etc. Just folks owning land, blowing smoke.

They don't want it, they have the council votes, the decision is political, not asthetic, nor scientific, nor "constitutional."

Just be honest, say, "We have the votes on council and this Planning Commission hearing is the same as a Stalin show trial - more show than justice expected/delivered."

The past council, and their ditching the wetlands for sewer routing did more harm draining water table levels, as my guess, than repeal of the buffer ordinance will do. But it will do harm, and make things more ugly, more crowded. Some hope to make more money. Bless them.

If only they'd honestly say what's on their minds.

_______UPDATE_______
I have no complaints over Mike Nixt and the Planning Commission's handling of the situation, especially their ultimate recommendation to the council - refer it back to staff and the Environmental Policy Board to see if the ordinance could be reworked to accomodate the land baron thinking and the environmentally protective thinking in ways that, in Nixt's words, "... would not throw out the baby with the bathwater."

Instead of killing things wholly and outright, and in lieu of considering at any length a proposed rewrite of the swamp-buffer ordinance in the meeting's full agenda package, the Planning Commission's quite practical suggestion was that folks reason together. It was a good outcome, unless the land barons really don't want to reason but to poison the well. We'll see, once it reaches council.

Having an environmental policy that is informed and protective is one of the few ways that Ramsey has been less than knuckle-dragging in things done.

The Environmental Policy Board is a board worthy of respect, and capable of meeting the land barons' assault in a conciliatory way if the council will permit that outcome to see the actual light of day.