Last week's Question of the Week asked whether or not the time has come for land-use zoning in the Helena Valley.

Three out of four of those responding said yes.

Among 563 responses to this unscientific poll, 429 favored zoning in the valley, 134 did not.

Some readers' comments:

- Zoning in the valley is long overdue. The continued growth with well water and septic tanks must be addressed, as well as the chaotic growth patterns.

- Zoning would go a long way to giving predictability to homeowners. Developers do what developers do -- make money. Unfortunately, often at the expense of others.

- Any zoning that doesn't come from the people that own the property won't solve the problems and may increase them. What we really need is planning, and zoning is only part of the process.

- Actually, the horse is almost out of the barn that's to Realtors, developers and large landowners who have stymied planning efforts and consistently put profits ahead of sensible land use.

- We should have had controls on the valley sprawl in place long ago.

- The time has come for the commissioners to quit trying to take away private property rights without just compensation. The affected landowners protested zoning. The so-called water quality emergency is a farce. Whatever happened to liberty and justice for ALL?

- Actually, the time for zoning in the valley came about 25-30 years ago, but we haven't yet had the community foresight or political will to adequately address our development patterns. But better late than never!

- The Development Standards Working Group deserves a big thank you from the community. They have put in uncountable hours working in good faith and tirelessly on a complex and difficult task. Their product is a great step forward for the Helena Valley.

- Zoning requires planning, and that planning has not been done. We need to do the necessary planning before trying to implement zoning. Zoning without planning is the proverbial cart before the horse, and it will create more problems than it will solve.

- Without zoning, we have no real planning. Without zoning to protect the integrity of Helena, planning is for profit only. The time is NOW.

- The problem with zoning at this point is the excuse that there is a water problem. The continued "sky is falling" commission and environmentalist mentality and momentum somehow authenticates an untruth. Let's get a real road plan in place before we discuss zoning. The County Commissioners will do anything, ANYTHING, to stop growth.

- Yes. We must implement the five-acre septic tank rule to protect the valley groundwater. Helena Realtors will ruin the valley if we let them.

- Absolutely! The issues of groundwater quality and quantity, wastewater treatment, roads, schools, fire control and congestion will impact all Helena Valley residents, even those of us who live in the city. Allowing unbridled growth is like ignoring man's impacts on global warming. We ignore them at our peril.