When Did "Development" Become a Dirty Word?

Dear Friends,  

Words matter.

Over time, certain words take on meanings far beyond their dictionary definitions. One of those words is development.

These days, "development" is often used as if it's automatically a bad thing. The word "developer" carries much of the same baggage. Somewhere along the way, we stopped treating those words as descriptions and started treating them as labels.

But is that fair?

The dictionary defines develop as to create, build, improve, or bring into being. It's a neutral word.

Whether the result is good or bad depends on what is being created, where it's proposed, and how responsibly it's planned.

Take a look around Martin County. Our homes. Schools. Medical offices. Grocery stores. Restaurants. Parks. Ballfields. Playgrounds. Boat ramps. Boardwalks. Libraries. Community centers.

None of these places simply appeared. Every one of them started as an idea, became a plan, and eventually became part of the fabric of our community - brought to life by hundreds of local people. Architects and engineers. Surveyors and environmental scientists. Electricians, plumbers, roofers, landscapers, truck drivers, equipment operators, suppliers, inspectors, skilled tradespeople, and small businesses. They're our neighbors. They raise families here, volunteer here, coach youth sports here, and care about Martin County just as much as anyone else.

Never once did I think, "Sorry, we're full."  Yet somewhere along the way, we've developed a curious habit.

People move into a new home in a new neighborhood - one that was planned, approved, and built by developers - and then show up at the next county commission meeting determined to stop the next neighborhood from being built.  It's a contradiction worth thinking about.

The places we value today exist because previous generations made difficult decisions. They debated them. And then they approved some and rejected others. But they didn't reject everything.

Somewhere along the way, growth management became confused with growth rejection. They aren't the same thing.

Protecting Martin County doesn't mean opposing everything that's proposed. It means having the wisdom to know the difference between the projects that belong - and the ones that don't.

Now, before anyone misunderstands me, I'm not suggesting every proposal deserves approval. Far from it. Some projects belong where they're proposed. Others don't. Some should be redesigned. Some should be denied. That's exactly why we have planning departments, engineering reviews, environmental regulations, public hearings, and elected officials. Their job is to weigh the facts, apply the law fairly, and decide whether a proposal serves the long-term interests of Martin County.

That's what leadership - and good citizenship – looks like.

Martin County has earned its reputation for protecting what makes this place special, and we should never lose sight of that. But protecting what we love and planning wisely for the future aren't opposing ideas. In fact, they've always gone hand in hand.

The question isn't whether we're for or against development. The question is whether a proposal belongs where it's proposed. Does it respect our environment? Fit the surrounding community? Follow the rules?

Communities don't thrive by saying yes to everything. But they don't thrive by saying no to everything, either. They thrive by making thoughtful decisions - preserving what should be preserved, improving what should be improved, and building what should be built.

That's how Martin County became the place we love today. And that's how we'll ensure future generations have the opportunity to love it just as much.

Respectfully,  

Rick Hartman and the One Martin Board of Directors