In Part 2 of our conversation with Bill Carrier from Citizens for Smart Growth in St. Charles County, we dive deeper into the legal, emotional, and philosophical battles at the heart of modern rural development.
We talk farmland loss, wetland destruction, the zoning loopholes that bypass public concern—and the people fighting back. Bill shares how a casual group of concerned residents evolved into a powerful citizen-led movement, and why it’s more important than ever to get involved.
Whether you're frustrated by traffic, heartbroken over lost open space, or simply curious about how decisions are made—this conversation is a roadmap for action.
Topics Covered:
- The legal fight against forced annexation
- How farmland gets squeezed out—one development at a time
- Misuse of the term "Smart Growth"
- What everyday people can do to protect their communities
- The power of showing up and staying informed
- Personal motivations: why this matters to Bill and to us all
- The importance of shared values and taking off the “jerseys”
Mentioned in the Episode:
- Citizens for Smart Growth: https://smartgrowthscc.com
- Their Facebook group: Citizens for Smart Growth – St. Charles County
- Submit your feedback, topic requests, or local stories: https://newmellepulse.news
Recorded at: Friedens Community Center in New Melle, Missouri — the home of the New Melle Farmers Market, the Food Co-op, and so much more.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.