After a $300,000, three-year study, a Hamilton County steering committee is finishing a plan to shape the last, unbuilt regions of the county: the far west sector. The 160,000 square-mile plan area, 40 percent

undeveloped, does not include Cincinnati or Delhi. But westside growth affects roads, taxes, water and sewer rates and regional competition.

The Western Hamilton County Collaborative Plan means nothing without approval from county commissioners and each jurisdiction in the plan. But an anti-growth group wants to scrap it and start over.

That would be a mistake. This plan sets sensible benchmarks.

Hamilton County is losing population to booming areas beyond the I-275 beltway - especially from the shrinking city of Cincinnati. Developers want scenic, rural, hilly western Hamilton County to snag those departing families and businesses before they "leapfrog" beyond the beltway for cheaper land in Butler, Warren or Clermont counties and beyond.

Maryland-based LDR International studied four growth "scenarios" for the western sector, and found that if the county did nothing differently, the growth trend over 20 years would be even greater (37 percent) than if the county adopts a "moderate-growth" plan (34 percent). "Doing nothing differently," to LDR, does not mean "doing nothing." LDR's trend estimates assume that Hamilton County would continue to extend sewer and water lines on the westside. The opposition, Concerned Citizensof Western Hamilton County, wants county officials to cut growth further to what they call "smart growth."

Collaboration makes sense for the western townships and municipalities, because some development is inevitable in a free market. Better to steer it than be run over by sprawl.

Commissioner John Dowlin defends the plan: "This is not maximum growth. We think it will control sprawl."

The plan would channel new housing next to zones already developed as residential, encourage compact development (two or more dwellings per acre) and promote neighborhoods with dedicated parks and recreation space. It also regulates strip malls and identifies land for commercial sites.

Jobs are another justification for what is probably the single most inflammatory goal in the Collaborative Plan: an Ohio River bridge near North Bend to Kentucky's Boone County and the airport. "That's where the jobs will be," Mr. Dowlin says.

But a bridge will bring a major highway link, most likely to I-74. And that may change rural Western Hamilton County forever. It should be carefully studied, but a bridge west of I-75 is badly needed by our region.

The plan area has 35 percent of the county's acreage with just 16 percent of the population. Much of it has no sewers. Residents rely on septic systems and aerobic systems that can be unhealthy. Some residents fear costly assessments for mandatory hookups to water and sewer lines. "What is particularly aggravating to many residents," said Concerned Citizens' Timothy G. Mara, "is that many of these water- and sewer-line extensions are motivated by developers who need utilities for their new developments."

County officials insist their plan strikes a reasonable balance between moderate growth and scenic preservation. The consultants project low traffic congestion, second only to a low-growth strategy. Growth will bring more property-tax relief to homeowners and improve school districts by adding commercial development.

This plan is only as good as the 10 jurisdictions that must implement it. But it's far better than having no plan or hoping to stop or curb growth. This plan can make western Hamilton County more livable for all.