Southern Utah has some of the best landscapes in the world - and that's no exaggeration. With Zion National Park clearly visible for miles around, Cedar Mountain's majesty in Iron County and Red Mountain providing a stark image on the horizon in Ivins, those of us who live here are spoiled by the sights we take in on a daily basis.
There is one exception, however: the scar on the face of Black Hill. Many people who live here now know nothing different than the scar that has been in place since land was cleared in 1987 for a condominium development. The red scar stands as a vivid reminder of what happens if growth isn't kept in check by at least planning how the land will be used.
St. George and surrounding communities have learned important lessons thanks to that scar, which extends to near the "D" maintained by Dixie State University. Thanks in part to the outcry over the loss of the black, volcanic rock, the city began an earnest discussion about hillside ordinances. Those ordinances have protected other areas of the city, and other municipalities have drafted their own to prevent similar mistakes in their communities.
About 26 years later, a committee of engineers and planners is working to restore Black Hill so it more formally matches its name. There are two major obstacles. The first is much of the land in question is privately owned and still slated for development based on approval in 1987 prior to the scar being carved. But the biggest obstacle is the cost.
One thing the committee is coming to grips with is that a 26-year-old mistake is going to be an incredibly expensive problem to fix. The first component is to reseed and stain a 900-foot section on the southern tip known as "the eyebrow." The cost for the repair is estimated to be $150,000. The hope is that some things will be learned to allow for a more complete restoration later.
With city council and mayoral elections coming up, the people have to ask the candidates - in fact, themselves, too - if the community wants to put money into fixing the scar. After all, the hill's appearance prior to the scar is something as many as three-fourths of St. George residents today have never seen except in photographs. And could the money going to fix the scar be better spent on other things - more police officers or firefighters, or perhaps road construction projects?
This isn't to say that restoring the natural look isn't worthwhile. But given the possible costs of the repair, the city might be better served to put that money to use elsewhere and let the scar serve as a permanent reminder of the need for good planning and well-thought-out developments so construction doesn't end up tearing down our landscapes.