Help build local survey on growth

Hayden resident Ed DePriest had strong feelings about growth in Kootenai County, but rather than fire off a couple letters to the editor and call it good, he took his cause a step further.

As a Feb. 11 Press article explained, DePriest started a Facebook group that includes similarly concerned Kootenai County citizens who want leaders to hear them loud and clear: Get a handle on growth before it’s too late.

A funny thing happened after The Press article published: The size of the group nearly tripled, to more than 1,300 citizens.

“I think the Press article… allowed people to see that they are not alone,” Ed said. “So many are commenting that they felt it was a waste of time to become active because there weren't enough other people to make an impact. Now, many are gaining confidence that, although it won't be easy, will be a steep climb and probably take a long time, an organized effort may end up having an effect on how Kootenai County develops in the future.”

Specifically, he told the editor, ”The people want to slow the growth; reduce the density; address the overcrowding of schools and other places that people gather; address the traffic; keep the small town feeling; maintain a good quality of life.”

And he asked a question. Might The Press be willing to survey readers to see what they think? The answer is yes.

DePriest provided some fodder to get the survey brain cells activated.

“People in the group keep asking the same questions,” he wrote. “Examples: Is the residential development in Kootenai County too dense? Should future development of the prairie preserve larger lots (currently 5-acre minimum)? Is growth having a negative impact on your daily quality of life? Is the current traffic rate and volume acceptable? Do you want to see future development density limited?”

The Press is committed to surveying residents and continuing coverage of what it considers the most important issue facing the community in the long run, assuming COVID-19 is finally thwarted. But the survey answers won’t help much if the right questions aren’t asked.

What key questions about growth would you like to put before thousands of Kootenai County residents? We’d like to hear from retirees, young professionals, builders, elected officials, real estate agents, construction workers, fast-food employees, car dealers — anybody and everybody who feels they have a stake in how our community grows.

Please email no more than three questions you’d like us to consider including in a local growth survey. Email them to hollyp@cdapress.com by March 15.

To be clear, not all survey questions will be asked. But we do believe most elected officials and other decision makers in our community want the same thing the residents do, and toward that end, building some kind of consensus on how to grow isn’t an insurmountable obstacle.