Supporting or opposing growth is like supporting or opposing aging: it is going to happen whether one likes it or not. What we can do to make a difference as our mountains continue to attract big-money development is support smart growth, progressive planning, environmental safeguards and green space preservation as we encroach into areas where many hoped and believed things would always stay the same.

The Mystic River project along the upper stretches of the Nantahala River is causing an uproar among the rafting community and others who never imagined the wild river and its streambanks would be threatened by a housing development.

But the land Ami Shinitsky bought had been for sale for some time. Those of us who live here probably should have foreseen that a housing development in this scenic gorge was at least one option for this parcel. At some point before Shinitsky paid $4.8 million for the land and lots were sold, a public campaign similar to those that preserved the Needmore Tract in Macon and Swain counties and Lake Logan in Haywood County may have succeeded.

But now the development is going in, eventually up to 66 homes on 35 acres. Those opposed to it can take some consolation in the fact that Shinitsky has promised and appears sincerely committed to a development that is as non-invasive as possible. He has appeared before the Gorge Association and is re-working his plans after hearing its concerns. Homes will be at least 50 feet from the river, and he is not selling trophy-size castles that will tower above those using the river. He is proposing design standards that will fit the feel of the Gorge. He is also searching for a suitable sewage disposal system that will not harm the watershed. Shinitsky has done the things we would expect from a good neighbor.

Yes, the acoustic wall built to shield the development from highway noise is ugly and will likely remain an eyesore. But many who love the Nantahala Gorge have also complained about the small camper trailers and other shoddy buildings that are practically falling into the water. The quarry has presented problems in the past, and many complain when another house is built on the privately owned ridges. For all its appeal, the built environment in the Gorge has never been perfect.

As much nostalgia as there is for the way the rafting industry has taken over the Gorge over the last 30 years, it is relevant to go back to the pre-rafting industry days and remember what the river was like. There are still old-timers who cuss the kayakers and rafters, and their arguments, though seldom heard today, were very relevant when they saw their way of life change forever.

At this point in the process, there seems little to be accomplished by opposing the development outright. Those who love the Nantahala Gorge should, instead, work to make sure this development is held to the highest possible standards so that it won’t bring any harm to the $20 million whitewater industry. Swain County commissioners need to be encouraged to adopt land-use guidelines that county residents are satisfied with, and that will protect the county’s largest industry. Perhaps the Gorge Association should bring in a consultant to help it develop its own guidelines for what it considers “desirable” growth in the area and use it in the future to try and influence developers.

The most passionate debates in the mountains these days are about land use. There’s little doubt Mystic River will change things, but at best it can also serve as an opportunity and a wake-up call for those who want to protect the future of the Nantahala Gorge.