'Keeping Kootenai'

COEUR d'ALENE — The title suggests planners want to hold onto what's good here for future generations.

Kootenai County has released a proposed update of its comprehensive plan, called Keeping Kootenai, that is a broad statement of community goals and policies.

The plan will guide future decisions on property rights, population, land use, economic development, transportation, natural resources, public services, housing, agriculture, hazardous areas, recreation and more.

The plan whittles 347 goal and policy statements from the 2010 version down to 16 pages.

"The update is principally an editing effort to reduce the 2010 plan's large size and numerous goals and policies into a more readable and understandable format," said David Callahan, the county's community development director.

"The update is not so much about new thinking as it is about providing new clarity of thought and meaning to the previous effort."

Callahan said the 2010 plan was so large, county officials found it difficult to interpret and implement.

The Planning Commission has been working on the update for the past eight months. Contrary to what some people believe, the update process began under the former board of county commissioners that included Marc Eberlein, Bob Bingham and Chris Fillios, not the new-look board that took over in January. The current board includes Bill Brooks and Leslie Duncan, plus Fillios.

There will be five community input meetings throughout the county in which a short presentation will be made on the update, followed by questions and answers and input.

The first community meeting is Thursday, April 25, at Kootenai County Administration Building, 451. N Government Way, Coeur d'Alene, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

A website, https://keepingkootenai.com, has also been created with a comment form, the full plan and other information.

Callahan said the Planning Commission believed the 2010 plan was insufficient in some areas and therefore added language to:

- Increase property rights goals, objectives and policies in recognition of the importance of property rights to county citizens;

- Identify current public views on property rights, rural character and shoreline protection; and

- Increase public involvement in planning and public recreation opportunities.

The proposed goal for property rights states, "to adopt land-use regulations and zoning that protect property rights while ensuring that public health, safety and general welfare needs are met."

With the exception of hiring a public outreach consultant, the plan update was performed in house with existing staff and the Planning Commission, Callahan said.

Following the community input meetings, the Planning Commission and county commissioners will hold public hearings before the plan is adopted in the fall.