There’s something to be said about small towns in our area. They have something going for them the big cities don’t. They are far enough out there that you could very well say you were living in the country and yet they are in close enough range of shopping and recreation that you don’t feel cut off from the rest of the world.

Having been a resident of a small town for the past 16 years, I have been witness to many changes – some good, some bad. The latest referendum to be issued to the residents of Waterman, one they voted on Tuesday, had to do with the possible expansion of the town by way of two new subdivisions.

It’s projected these subdivisions, dubbed the Green Ridge Subdivision Phase I and the Deerfield Crossing Subdivision, will bring with them 660 new homes – and will nearly triple the size of Waterman. This would require local farmers to annex more of their precious farmland for the sake of development. But to what end?

Why bring it there? Why not take the development elsewhere? People who move to small towns usually do so for that very reason – they are small and small towns typically pride themselves on being small. The larger the community, the harder it becomes to keep that community close-knit. Ask anyone in Waterman and they most likely will tell you they know just about everyone.

And it’s comfortable that way.

People rarely make a day trip to Waterman. And if they are looking for a great night life or a vast job market, they are looking in the wrong place. People go to places like Waterman because they are seeking an escape from city life. If Waterman itself becomes a city, those reasons for coming there will be made futile.

When and if this expansion is put into play, it can only be hoped that it comes slowly. Otherwise, it’s possible the Indian Creek school district might not be able to handle it. The town may end up having to add yet another district, as it did in 1993 when Shabbona and Waterman school districts combined to make room for the influx of new students.

The next best thing would be for Waterman to control its growth, which was what one side of the referendum offered. This would allow the town to be able to catch up, at least, and would lessen the strain on the schools, fire and police departments and other institutions that would be affected.

Waterman is not the only small town in our area facing new growth. It’s also possible the natural woodland of Shabbona Lake State Park may be accented soon with a shining new casino. Again, the impact on the community would be great. Not only would it require housing for about 300 new employees, but it also undoubtedly would bring with it overwhelming migration.

The park already is a form of entertainment – and a much more gratifying one at that. Building a casino on the land would switch that focus. People no longer would go there to experience the free and natural beauty of the place but would be coming there to throw their money away. In the same way, if Waterman expands to include commercial growth, the charm the place possesses now will become nothing more than an afterthought.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.