You’ve no doubt heard the cliché before. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The same can be said of development – what is pleasing to one group isn’t necessarily going to be pleasing to others. That’s apparently the case when it comes to commercial development along Hwy. 144 and the spur in South Bryan.

What was once a relatively quiet, unspoiled area is now filled with development, and there are those who live there now who want to limit growth, or keep whatever future growth that comes that way strictly residential – or as residential as possible.

That’s why we think the Bryan County Planning and Zoning Board made the right call last week, when it denied an application by developer Johnny Murphy to rezone 390 acres for a mixed use, PUD project that would include some commercial aspects.

Not that there’s anything wrong with Murphy’s work. Far from it. He is widely considered one of the area’s quality developers, and much of the coastal portion of the county bears his stamp.

But at some point, and our thought is it ought to come real soon, the powers that be in Bryan County need to look closely at how this place will be in 20, 10 – even five years from now – and ask themselves whether embracing massive growth along Hwy. 144 is advisable.

What's more, those powers that be need to listen to all residents who care to make their opinion known on the subject, but give special consideration to property owners who actually live in areas which might be impacted most by projects such as the one in question.

After all, they pay plenty for the privilege of living in the area and should have a say in what goes on (or up) in their neighborhoods.

Of course, Bryan County is in dire need of more commercial and industrial development to help lower property taxes while providing opportunity for local residents. But there’s plenty of room elsewhere in the county for that type of growth – in places where it’s not only needed, but wanted.