A top civil servant yesterday told Hamilton Rotarians about his department's goal of achieving balance in the community.

And Planning Department director Brian Rowlinson had a word of advice for The Royal Gazette Editor David L. White during his lunchtime speech.

Mr. Rowlinson said the work of the Planning Department focused upon achieving balance between the needs of the community and the needs of the individual; balancing conservation with development; and balancing quantity with quality.

This issue of balance was particularly important in both the day to day running of the department and to long-term planning, especially considering that Bermuda was a 21-square-mile Island with a population of some 60,000 people, he said.

The department sought to make the best use of available land, whether it be by protecting it or developing it. Because of this, he continued, there was a statutory planning process in place.

He said: "The process attempts to achieve a balance between the goals, needs and aspirations of the community at large and the objectives, needs and desires of individual property owners.'' However the attempt to find balance tended to cause conflict, he noted, and resolving these conflicts went to the heart of the planning process.

Mr. Rowlinson noted that it seemed as if there was always a controversial planning issue in the Press whenever he was called upon to give a speech and this occasion was no different with the Vesey Street matter grabbing headlines.

Environment Minister John Irving Pearman waived the restricted woodland reserve zoning of the Devonshire site so the Development Application Board could hear a proposal from the Bermuda Equestrian Federation who wish to build a national equestrian centre there.

The move, which was designed to "facilitate open and frank discussion'', said Mr. Rowlinson, sparked outrage among environmental groups on the Island.

It also led to personal attacks from the Press, he continued, who did not seem to understand what had been done.

"I think one criticism is that we did not do a good job of explaining what was going on but this is not always easy to do.'' Press releases sent to the media were often cut or not printed at all, he explained, while on other occasions the views of opposing groups were tacked on the end of the article.

"I think the past president of the National Trust has a responsibility to put forward a more balanced report rather than reports which further the interest of the special interest groups he represents,'' said Mr. Rowlinson.

Conflict often occurred between those in favour of conservation and those opposed to it. But Mr. Rowlinson said he did not see their objectives as being mutually exclusive.

"In my opinion, there is no contradiction in arguing for both economic growth and environmental good sense. The challenge is to integrate the two.'' These objectives were not incompatible and their inter-relationship was seen in the concept of sustainable development.

"To put it simply, sustainable development is about how we develop in this generation without stealing from the next.

"The concept recognises that the community has legitimate development needs but acknowledges the limitations imposed by the environment's ability to absorb the effects of development.'' There was also the need to process planning applications as quickly as possible, which was the quantity aspect, but balance it with careful consideration about protecting the Bermudian image -- the quality aspect.

"The Department must operate a balanced planning process which both minimises the delays and is sensitive to the need for high-quality development.'' Most people seemed to prefer a "slow yes to a quick no'', he added.

Three initiatives were also underway to improve service at the department.

The scope of the general development order was set to be expanded to enable more applications to be processed quicker; a simplified Bermuda residential building code is due to be published; and appeal legislation will be reviewed with the aim of improving it.

Brian Rowlinson PLANNING PLN