Tackle land code in smaller increments

Thank you to The Press for the continuing coverage of this momentous project. One of the things my husband and I love about Cd'A is the small town atmosphere. We deliberately purchased a home that didn't have a homeowners association, because some small groups can become petty tyrants. Sometimes that means that we have to put up with some petty annoyances but that is part of living together and letting others live their lives as they see fit as much as possible.

I am dismayed by the attitude of some of our elected officials on the city council, the school board and the county commission. All change is not good. I understand that the community needs to grow and adapt, but at what cost to those who now call Kootenai County home?

People have chosen to live here for what is here now. Why is an out of state developer given permission to change the whole flavor of the downtown area by building a tall, narrow tower, then taking his profits, running away and not having to live with the changes? The school board is considering selling the school buses and letting an out-of-state (possibly out-of-country) company take over the care for our younger citizens and send any profits out of the community (because they certainly won't be busing the students for free). The county commission has paid an out-of-state company to change OUR Land Use Code apparently using a template that worked for somewhere else, not Kootenai County.

What is wrong with using the talent and resources in our own community who might be familiar with some of the local issues? There is talk about educating our young people, but are locals being hired?

The ULUC process that was put in place is obviously not working and the commissioners have the nerve to say "... We'll never make it simple enough for everyone. I think the real problem is public education." And, "Ideology is driving most of the angst."

Please, the problem is a very few elected people are possibly thinking that only they know what is best for our community. The commissioners and others may need to be re-educated as to the reason they should be serving. They are supposed to be our "public servants," not dictators. They are supposed to listen to the citizens, not cram their own ideas and projects down the throats of Kootenai County residents.

The commissioners have done their very best to earn the distrust of our citizens. The commissioners seem to be poking some very sharp sticks in the eyes of just about everyone. Did somebody else want a "legacy" from their time in office? The best legacy is not messing up.

Maybe the ULUC process needs to start with an acceptable zoning map, including what uses are there now and incorporating the "Plan." Then work the codes for the various uses around what is there now, one section at a time, and quit micromanaging what people can do or not do with their property. When the Code is doubled or tripled in length, there is no way it is more manageable or understandable. The commissioners have tried to do too much in one very big, wrong step. Breaking the process down into workable sections would make more sense for everyone.

Marcella Layton is a Coeur d'Alene resident.