AIRPORT: Memo to commissioners

I am not a pilot nor involved in the aviation industry, but I love aviation and recognize the place it now holds in our culture. We have enjoyed visiting the World War II planes that have come to Coeur d’Alene for visits. We do not own property near the airport because we can read a map and know that an airport generates noise and sometimes traffic. Unfortunately not all property buyers look at the surrounding environment before they make a choice. (Remember the new Post Falls resident who is moving because of the train horns in the night?) We chose Coeur d’Alene because it is a small town where the people are friendly and life can be good.

Right now you, the elected commissioners, have an opportunity to make it possible for the airport, a valuable asset, to maintain safety and to grow by allowing for future expansion. You have the opportunity to be proactive for the future and you are blowing the chance. We came from a more populous state and we have seen what happens when open land near an airport is rezoned for homes: lawsuits against the airport and county because of noise, restrictions on growth of the airport for safety of airport users and neighbors and restrictions on arrivals and departures. I can see that originally the airport was significantly away from residential areas but now homes are encroaching and additional residential growth in the immediate area should be stopped.

Here are some questions for our county commissioners: Where is the money? Who owns the surrounding land and when did they buy it? Was it only bought for speculation, hoping to get the zoning changed? Well sometimes such business gambles don’t succeed and this is one instance when it shouldn’t, if this is the case. Your new land-use committee has tentatively zoned the property how? Why? Why do the Huetter and Ramsey road projects need to run into the airport property? Do the roads have to run in a straight line? If your metropolitan plan didn’t provide for safe airport operations now and in the future, then it was NOT well done.

What is happening to the airport’s purchase of 200 acres? Has it been stalled? This sounds like a wise investment for the airport and has it been shut down?

To Todd: It looks mighty suspicious that you are trying to get all this change to the airport administration before you are out the door. Time will answer this question. What plans do you have now that you are not going to be commissioner? What type of land investments (and where) do you have?

To Dan: You are being rather high-handed about the airport issue. What is your motivation? You actions appear to show you to be thinking narrowly and not for the greater good of the county. Is a recall called for?

To our new commissioners: Think and plan for the residents, not the developers. All growth is not good.

MARCELLA LAYTON

Kootenai County