County comp plan: Process is broken
Over the recent past, we've read articles regarding the new Comprehensive Plan for Kootenai County. The process has been under way for over three years since the neighborhood visioning groups (Kezziah-Watkins) was completed and the results presented to our Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The BOCC is currently reviewing the plan.
If you're a city as opposed to a county resident, you might not have paid much attention to the process, and this is understandable, If you read Dan Green's (Chairman, KC Planning & Zoning Commission) guest opinion in the Jan. 15 Press, you have a synopsis of the process and challenges. It is not my intent to repeat this, but to address a major concern regarding the future of our county: The broken process causing division between business and citizens groups over the direction and content of the plan.
Why is the comp plan important to you? The comp plan as defined by state statute is to prepare, implement and provide community goals, direction and guidance for the future growth of our county. It directs growth and development where most feasible.
Without a definitive plan with dovetailed ordinances, the end result is haphazard growth, ecologically sensitive areas compromised, and the straining of our police, fire, and highway districts.
The plan covers the rural land not located in the cities or their area of impact. We are all affected by the health of these lands. They provide recreational amenities, attraction for new residents and visitors, and with vision, new employment opportunities for our county.
As sides are drawn in the debate over the content of the plan, the charges of "too regulatory," and "no-growth" have been levied, with the plan reading like a zoning document. As a result, a new competing plan has been produced by Citizens for Balanced Growth (CBG) and is under consideration by the BOCC.
This, of course, is CBG's privilege. The BOCC, however, acted irresponsibly by not submitting the competing plan to the planning and zoning commission for review and inclusion where they saw fit. State statute clearly places the responsibility for drafting the comp plan with the planning and zoning commission.
On the other side, the citizens groups and rural community would like to retain their quality of life, with appropriate development that does not burden the infrastructure or adversely affect the environment. The state of Idaho has given counties stewardship over the lands for all the people to enjoy and to use, and to provide for the health and safety of the residents.
One can disagree with the content of the plan. Yet there is a more fundamental issue: the slow progress of the BOCC deliberations stemming from an apparent lack of leadership. Increasing dissatisfaction between the groups stems from delay caused by the word-by-word review of the plan by the BOCC. The progress has been painfully slow, and is only aggravating the divisions between the groups.
Each delay affects plans by residents, developers and potential employers. Each delay results in impaired zoning decisions and possible lawsuits against the county, consequently affecting the county budget.
Robert South said "Problems Can Become Opportunities When the Right People Come Together." It is time for the residents of Kootenai County to come together to forge a consensus for the greater good of our county. This can only be achieved with new visionary leadership.
As we enter an election year, it's time for change. Positive, meaningful change.
Chris Fillios is a Coeur d'Alene resident.