Monday, April 20, 2009

Reader: Don't forget the mountains

Sunday's column on coastal issues and how we want the coastline to look in the future brought a few responses. Here are a couple:

From a Charlotte construction company executive:

Enjoyed and appreciated today’s article as well as the ones in the past about the challenges we face on the Carolina coast.

But, is it possible to add someone to the editorial staff who owns property in the NC mountains, so that we could get a little more discussion underway regarding the air quality and protection of the view shed up there.


From another reader:

It would seem those that choose to build on moving sands should build accordingly and not expect that they can hold off the forces of nature. The State of NC should stop paying for any improvements or recovery from disasters along the coast for those that have made the choice to build in this situation for recreational purposes only. Home Insurance should also be allowed to reflect this increased risk and rates allowed to increase accordingly.

The combination of these few changes would diminish the amount that is built, (as most would have to weigh the cost of total loss), and the false value put on this land allowing a more natural inhabitation per your earlier description of this environment by those that truly carve a living out of living by the sea. What would the State of NC be
willing to do if the seas were to rise 10 feet in height on average?
As a society we tend to look at the immediate future and not the long term impacts we have on the environment around us and cry for help when everyone knows what the possibilities are when building on a the sands of a moving piece of land.

Thanks for bringing the issue the awareness it needs, here is hoping our better selves will prevail in the decisions made.

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