> When there are no real infrastructural/environmental limitations for population growth in sight, “our region doesn’t want to grow” paints a picture of some residents placing their own emotional attachment to how things used to be above all else.
What exactly is the problem with that? The only thing that welcomes growth forever is cancer, and economists.
We are not discussing restricting human reproduction. Keeping low density strictly ensures humans spread wider and live with larger environmental footprint to appease those averse to change in a futile attempt to hold on to the past.
To make your proposal more reality-compatible, “people should be comfortable when a region has to grow”. This means people’s attitudes as well as infrastructure’s capability to handle increased number of people.
What exactly is the problem with that? The only thing that welcomes growth forever is cancer, and economists.