Not so long ago, in a land not so far away, a man disliked his neighbor. He called me to ask if it was legal for him to place a pig sty within a few feet of his neighbor’s home. I referred him to another attorney and wished for the day land use planning would prevent such pettiness.
Land-use planning generally elevates our property values and enhances our quality of life. Consequently, virtually every city in the U.S. regulates land use. Putrid swine wallows, sheet metal shop cacophony late into the night, regional garbage amassing and the like adjacent to our homes prove the need for land-use planning.
Singling out Gwen Lachelt for land use planning seems a bit peculiar. In the early 1990s, I served as a planning commissioner for La Plata County and had the opportunity to work with Gwen on a number of issues affecting our county. Honestly, I can’t think of a person who has worked harder and accomplished more to protect our air and water quality, intelligent county development and land values in La Plata County than Gwen.
Her integrity and remarkable achievements as a public servant clearly justify her election as a county commissioner. The impossibility of pleasing everyone may at times make the job of a commissioner seem thankless.
May Gwen know that she is one of the finest county commissioners that La Plata County has ever had and how greatly we appreciate her.
Jim Grizzard
Durango
