Two years ago in these pages we expressed skepticism over a proposal to allow table gaming at Charles Town Racing & Slots. Our concern had little to do with the morality of gaming itself. We acknowledge the passionate positions on both sides, but gaming already exists in the county; that boat has now sailed.

There have been other issues raised by opponents of table games. One of these is traffic. For their parts, table-games boosters can’t credibly on one hand tout the tens of thousands of new tourists who will spend money in Jefferson County, then on the other hand claim that table gaming won’t result in increased traffic volumes. Opponents, though, need to be honest. The 15,000 to 20,000 people coming each day for slots now do not cause big-city-style traffic jams. That’s because the majority of the traffic comes into and out of the county during non-commuting hours, and much of it is spread out over many hours each day.

Proponents should acknowledge the data from other gaming states: big gaming often does have a deleterious effect on local retail business. We need to admit this challenge and figure out how to do it better here. A little honesty on this front would go a long way.

Our beef in 2007, expressly stated then, was with the West Virginia legislature, the de facto owner of all gambling operations in the state. They set the terms, determine what the profit will be, and divvy up the proceeds throughout the state as they see fit.

We did not like the terms they set back in 2007, and we advocated a better deal. Since then, Delegate John Doyle and Senator Herb Snyder went to Charleston and brought back a better deal. It’s not perfect, but it reflects an honest effort to help Jefferson County offset some of the increased costs resulting from gaming. Delegate Doyle in particular was ridiculed for the idea that a better deal was possible, and he proved his detractors wrong.

As in 2007, we still do not like the tendency of government to spend windfall revenue like gaming proceeds on day-to-day operations, as if the money could forever flow in greater quantities. Table game opponents are right about this: states that depend on gaming for general revenues are being hardest hit by the recession.

It does not need to be that way. If table games are approved, we could use gaming royalties for special projects like buying parkland, making infrastructure investments, and establishing better financial-management systems.

A lingering and legitimate concern among many voters is how table gaming, and the inevitable growth of more of it, would influence the rural character of Jefferson County—especially given remarks by the CEO of Charles Town Races & Slots’ parent company that Charles Town might become another Branson, Mo. No thanks.

But Jefferson County’s growth management challenges are far bigger than table gaming. With or without gaming, the county needs to modernize its approach to planning, or risk a diminishing quality of life and a downward spiral in property values.

These issues could be addressed through a modern, thoughtfully conceived planning and zoning ordinance. Coincidentally, there is one on the ballot slated for November 7. Our advice: however you decide to vote on the table games issue, vote “Yes” for the zoning ordinance to establish a smarter planning framework.