Rosemount Speaks: UMore Park and Sustainability

On Thursday, the University of Minnesota is entitled "Sustainability Goals for UMore Park." The forum takes place at the Rosemount Community Center and it will focus on sharing ideas about how to help UMore Park become environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable as it is developed over the next several decades.

In advance of the forum, Rosemount Patch asked residents and visitors on Tuesday to suggest questions and topics they would like to see addressed at Thursday's forum. The questions were asked of people shopping near the intersection of County Road 42 and Hwy 3.

"I would like to know whether building a sustainable community is even possible during such tough economic times. Rosemount already has a business park that isn't filled and lots of vacant or unsold housing. So it seems to me that building and selling a new development is difficult enough without bringing in another complication."
- Ron Jeffers, 47

"I think having a more environmentally sound development is a good idea. I just want to hear more about how it happen."
- Rushar Edwards, 29

"Honestly, this sounds like one of those goofball ideas that get trotted out by academics. You know, climate change is coming, so let's build an all solar-powered house."
- Dale Croman, 41

"One of the things I like the most about UMore is the chance for Rosemount to do something special. We don't need another faceless and bland development. Let's take advantage of all the knowledge and experience we have and build something really world class. I don't know exactly what that looks like, but it's the kind of thing that would bring me back here after college."
- Symone Sanchez-Crea, 19

"I have no idea about any of this. I know things are going to get built whether I have an opinion or not."
- Alex Prosser, 23

"I don't know about being sustainable, but I heard there is going to be a windmill or turbine at UMore. That's thinking outside the box and I can see where that would make an impression on visitors.
- Kim Melin, 31

"So how is UMore going to be sustainable if it's also going to have a big ol' gravel pit business? I'm not saying it can't happen, I just don't understand how they balance all this stuff in one development."
- Steve Altur, 57

For more information on Thursday's public forum, .