Dan Morrow: One man's "smart" growth is, of course, another man's sell-out to the forces of evil, with either "creeping government control" or "developers" at the top of mutually exclusive and equally satanic hierarchies.

Genuinely "smart" growth recognizes both the inevitability of growth . . . and the value of enlightened partnership. At the very least "smart growth" avoids, for all time, a Route 50 that resembles the worst of Maryland's Rockville Pike. At best, "smart" growth produces results that are more viable . . . and more pleasant . . . than the sum of their parts.

The Middleburg Town Council's approach to the Salamander Inn is an excellent case in point. By refusing to enter into a mutally beneficial arrangement with the Inn's "developer", the Town of Middleburg sacrificed not only trees, but tax revenues, a new town water system, and a partnership with an enlightened and genuinely caring "developer."

Mark Tate: Smart growth has become everything to everyone. Originally it was simply the concept that development should occur where the required infrastructure already exists of will soon exist.

The Town of Middleburg has always been ahead of the curve on smart growth. Both the town and the community at Large have worked hard to promote smart growth in the Middleburg area. We have always tried to protect our quality of life and protect our pocketbooks from out of control growth and inappropriate development.

Protecting our historic roadways and minimizing the affects of any development, including Salamander Inn, on our community is not only a good thing but the responsible thing to do.

One of the strengths of the Middleburg Community has always been its ability to come together to achieve the best results for the community and I am sure in the end the Middleburg community will come together do what is best for the town.