On the other hand, I would re-emphasize that the 200 or so families from the town and county that make up the Talbot Preservation Alliance are not against any and all growth. Growth is inevitable and can be salutary. We are deeply concerned, however, about the character and pace of growth and the need for sound information and planning. I am hardly unsympathetic to business. As a lawyer, I have represented business throughout my career, and I have been fortunate enough to play a key role in founding and developing several businesses.

        Why do we all love this place so much? Why has it fared better than so many other small towns? As I have suggested before, we think it is because of the unique quality of life, founded on our historic towns, waterways, farms, wildlife and, not least, the wonderful people, whether born here or attracted here later by these things. We should give a lot of credit to our community leaders over the years who have recognized and protected what we have. Polly Shannahan told me recently of a decision many years ago to turn down a big Dupont manufacturing facility that likewise would have severely threatened these qualities we value. Our forefathers wisely decided against the apparent short-term benefits of becoming a company town in favor of our longer term interests.

        However, no place can be all things to all people. If we decide to invite in more big box shopping centers like so many other towns, we will gravely threaten the quality of life that we cherish. And we will lose the very things that over the years have drawn people to spend their time, money and talent in our community, giving us the stronger local economy and public and private amenities that many other communities lack, even on the Shore. If we allow ourselves to become another regional shopping Mecca, and suffer the inevitable negative traffic, environmental and other consequences, we may soon find that we have "killed the goose that laid the golden egg." Shopkeepers, local restaurants, construction firms and workers, realtors, banks, investment firms, accountants and, yes, even lawyers may find customers, clients and values dwindling as people seek out other places which, by design or accident, have preserved the things we value most. Support for our hospital, YMCA, and so many other wonderful local institutions may be needlessly jeopardized.

        And what will we get in exchange? Yes, we may have a few more shopping choices-but we are already over-retailed for our size. Yes, we may less often choose to drive a half an hour or so to other existing shopping areas-but it may take us almost as much time just to get through the greatly increased traffic in our own town. Yes, we get some additional jobs-but they will be low paying retail jobs filled in large part by imported labor brought in by big out-of-town companies. And we will only have made it more difficult to attract the kind of high quality, low impact employers that we should be actively seeking. where will the profits go? Except for a few fortunate landowners, the benefits will go to corporate headquarters far from Easton. And for those owners who haven't sold to shopping center developers, the property values are likely to be adversely affected.

        Instead, we urge that the Town, after conducting the big box moratorium review, adopt one or more zoning amendments as we have proposed. [The amendments would either (a) prohibit additional big box retail stores larger than 25,000 square feet until further action by the Council, (1)) not permit additional big boxes unless and until the total occupied and vacant retail space within a five-mile radius does not exceed the national average for the population, (c) prohibit big boxes as long as we have more than 25,000 square feet of vacant and available retail space within the town center or existing shopping centers, and/or (d) require affirmative assurance that there will be no material adverse traffic, economic, environmental and other negative impacts, through independent analysis obtained by the town and funded by proposed developers, with specific identification of what is coming to the proposed development.] As we have noted, the Easton Comprehensive Plan stated flatly that "there is enough commercial development at this time," and stated a clear preference for locating additional retail within the existing Town. Those who formulated the Comprehensive Plan were right. The national average of retail store space is 20 square feet per capita--in Easton we have more than triple the national average, 62 square feet per capita. It's time to slow down and smell the roses!

        As emphasized by the panel in the growth seminar sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, TPA also believes that the big box and related issues must be addressed in a coordinated manner by the County and town governments. For example, if the County permits big box retail in the industrial park under the phony guise of a "lumber yard," it will almost certainly be launching a whole new retail glut near the shore of the Miles River, further detracting from downtown and choking traffic on the Parkway and Glebe and St. Michaels roads.

        As some may be aware, I and eventually my wife may be leaving our hometown for a little while if I take on the responsibility of serving as our ambassador to Brazil. We are excited by the prospect of representing the United States in this beautiful and growing country of the future-the fifth largest nation. However, we will miss this wonderful place, will return often as we can, and never expect to call any other place home. Easton and Talbot County are very important to us and our boys, who wouldn't take anything for the opportunity of living here and graduating from Easton High. Hope has particularly appreciated the opportunity to work for the continued improvement of our public schools. However, my greatest concern, at the prospect of being away, is coming home to find that Easton has quickly become a different place.

        All around the country, controlling growth and its impact and costs is becoming one of our greatest public concerns. In recent elections, in our own area, local governments have been voted out on the basis of insensitivity to these concerns. I earnestly hope and trust that our citizens and elected leaders will continue to be up to the challenge of preserving the heritage entrusted to us all.