ZONING: What will be next?

I attended the zoning change hearing at North Idaho College’s Boswell Hall. I am opposed to the development proposed by Mort Construction of Coeur d’Alene.

The proposed use of the identified property is not in conformance with the Kootenai County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP), it is a non-conforming use. It is my understanding that Mort Construction owns several other parcels of property adjacent to the requested zone change parcel. This begs the question of what rezoning requests will come next should this rezoning be granted approval further impacting the area and neutering the KCCP.

Both commissioners, David Stewart and Marc Eberlein, admitted they have received significant campaign contributions from Dennis Swartout and his family, it is inconceivable that there is not a conflict of interest affecting their decision regarding the requested zone change. Both commissioners should recuse themselves from these proceedings allowing those with no conflict of interest to adjudicate.

Many people in attendance last evening were not officially represented to Kootenai County. The county provided yellow registration sign-in sheets. County employees were stationed at one entrance to Boswell Hall to provide the sign-in sheets. However, large numbers of people entered Boswell through other entrances where no county employees were stationed and no sign-in sheets were available. I mentioned this error to the county administrative staff on two occasions but no announcement to those attending was made to rectify the situation. Is this a violation of protocol and questions the legitimacy of the proceedings.

JIM BARRETT

Athol