Colorado’s legislators have promised to take another look at growth in the General Assembly session that began Wednesday. If they are smart they will act as well. Growth is still topic No. 1 in Colorado.

Our lawmakers know that, but even talk of controlling growth sets off alarms in too many pocketbooks. Failure to act, however, would harm the whole state – and almost guarantee another growth-related ballot initiative.

The defeat of Amendment 24 at the polls in November should not be misconstrued. It does not mean the voters disapprove of all efforts to control sprawl. And, it certainly does not amount to a mandate to pave the state.

Amendment 24 went down because the voters were persuaded that it was a flawed plan and that it did not belong in the state’s Constitution. That is a reasonable position, but a far cry from saying that there is no problem with the status quo.

The margin by which Amendment 24 was defeated — 2 to 1 — cannot be ignored. But neither can the fact that its initial support was in the neighborhood of 80 percent. When Coloradans were asked about the idea of limiting sprawl they overwhelmingly agreed. It was only when faced with the specifics of Amendment 24 that their enthusiasm flagged.

In any case, the problems that led to Amendment 24 still face Colorado. Transportation, quality of life, the environment, schools, water and crime are all influenced by the direction and pace of the state’s growth. They cannot be separated from its effects. Neither can Southwest Colorado.

Sprawl may be seen as largely a Front Range phenomena, but its repercussions touch every corner of the state. As the cancerous growth along the I-25 corridor consumes resources, state government is naturally inclined to see the needs of outlying or less populated areas as less demanding.

Growth outside the Denver area also causes problems beyond the abilities of cities and counties to cope. Commercial development in Vail and Summit County, for example, swells those communities’ sales tax coffers but lets Leadville pick up the cost of local schools and social services.

Local control has other limits, as well. Growth in one area can have repercussions for Colorado highways two counties away, or more.

The election changed none of that.