- The Record Archives
- Volume CXVIII, No. XIX - November 3, 2005 - opinion
Look at both sides of Field Street debate
Staff writer
Have you heard the rumors? St. Joseph is going to build a road that will separate the Sisters from their woods! Can you believe that St. Joseph would do such a thing?
Is that how you thank a community of sisters that has spent more than 100 years in your town?
Just build a road that will split their land into two pieces?
Something must be done.
We must act now.
That is how I often overhear faculty, staff and students discussing the Field Street Corridor Preservation Project underway in the city of St. Joseph.
This is both exciting and frustrating.
First, as a political science graduate from CSB/SJU, I am very excited that our community is getting a little less apathetic.
People seem to be actually engaged and genuinely concerned about a possible governmental decision.
How wonderful.
On the other hand, I am frustrated by the way in which many are framing this debate.
Many seem to be more interested in "whipping up a crowd" than thoughtfully discussing the issue.
The debate over the Field Street Corridor Preservation study is full of opportunity for our community.
We should demand that every faculty, staff, student and Benedictine enters into a debate that is respectful, thoughtful and certainly educational.
We should focus on fully understanding the situation.
We should trust in those leading our community through the debate and not assume ill-will (as mayor I have removed myself from the study portion of this debate).
Contrary to the popular belief, this debate is not about building a road.
This debate is about preserving a corridor for a possible transportation solution in the future.
This debate is about preserving an 80-foot wide piece of land through the sister's property because it may be needed in the distant future as our community continues to grow.
The city of St. Joseph does not have the funds to build this road for at least the next 10 years.
More importantly, the City of St. Joseph knows this road is not needed right now and actually may never be needed.
This road will be built if and when development and traffic require it to be built.
Also, many assume the Field Street Corridor Preservation Study is being driven by potential freeway development.
This simply is not true.
This study is being conducted because it has been in several long term planning documents.
This road has been discussed for more than 20 years. St. Joseph experienced rapid growth over the last four years and the Area Planning Organization (for transportation) recognized the need to plan ahead and preserve potential transportation corridors.
This is about planning, not economic development.
Help me make sure this debate is educational, fulfilling, engaging, balanced and fair.
This is the opinion of Richard Carlbom, a 2004 graduate of SJU and mayor of St. Joseph. Contact him at rcarlbom@csbsju.edu.