point of view
Excelsior Springs, Missouri
finding balance
The right to use one’s property is fundamental—it’s part of what makes a community strong & free. But with that right comes a shared responsibility: to make sure a land use proposal doesn’t unintentionally cause harm to others. Good planning is about finding that balance. When we get it right, we protect both individual freedom & the public good.
This week, Planning & Zoning approved three projects that required zoning amendments & detailed planning review. Neighbor’s comments were heard & considered. Good planning attracts quality private investments & protects investments already made. These processes aren’t about restricting what people can do with their land; they’re about making sure new uses fit safely & responsibly within the broader community. When a project has the potential to create impacts beyond the property line, the owner has a duty to address those issues before problems occur—not after. It’s simply not fair or sustainable to expect taxpayers to step in & fix things later.
Sometimes, a few small changes—like adjusting an entrance or improving drainage—can prevent big headaches. Other times, the proposed use might just be better suited for a different location.
Consider a distribution center or similar use that generates heavy truck traffic that can wear down roads, strain intersections, & create safety risks when slow-moving trucks merge onto high-speed highways. The absence of proper turning & acceleration lanes can have tragic results—heartbreaking reminders of why planning matters. A responsible approach would include building the right infrastructure, such as turn lanes & merge areas, & contributing impact fees to help maintain road conditions over time.
That’s why tools like platting, site plan review, & zoning exist—to identify where mitigation is needed & ensure our public infrastructure can safely support new uses. When those steps are skipped or done halfway, the consequences can be serious. And once accidents happen or roads start to fail, it’s too late to make the developer fix the problem. The cost—financial & human—falls on taxpayers, or on the public agencies that didn’t hold the line when it mattered most.
Responsible land use isn’t about limiting rights—it’s about exercising them with care. When we balance individual freedom with shared responsibility, we protect not only property rights, but also lives, safety, & the integrity of our community.
choose your attitude!
My family & I have lived in ES since 2006 & we love it here & I think the reason why is because I'm a transplant from nearby & ES still has that small town vibe that nearby had way back when I was growing up & I love that. Read it on FB.