Huetter Bypass foes speak out

POST FALLS — Representatives from the No Huetter Bypass group presented their concerns at the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization board meeting Thursday.

Whether that leads to major changes in a massive transportation project in the works for years remains to be seen.

The grassroots organization has grown to about 280 members, said founder Brian Rogers. It includes doctors, lawyers, health care workers, engineers and civil servants of many varieties, Rogers said.

Some ground already has been gained. After meeting last month with the Kootenai County Planning Commission, a zoning overlay process was delayed for up to two years. Implementing the overlay would have prevented homeowners along the projected bypass from making property modifications.

Another result of that meeting was an invitation from KMPO board member Dan Gookin to address the board.

For 16 residents along Huetter Road, the corridor will mean a complete loss of property. The next step in the very long process, an environmental impact study by the Idaho Transportation Department, is about to begin.

That phase can take up to two years. Several residents who want to sell their property say they can't because of the impending study.

Gookin, a KMPO board member for the past eight years, said he’s been aware of the project for some time. But the grassroots group's efforts have gotten his attention.

“I didn’t know until recently how much it would impact the abutting property owners,” Gookin said. “I’m glad that certain citizens did come forward and tell me that it wasn’t going to be just 75 feet or 150 feet off their property. It’s a big project, and that is a lot of private property. I like private property rights. I like supporting the public and that seems like one hell of an impact.”

Rogers, who lives along Huetter on 4.5 acres with 310 feet of frontage and a property depth of about 300 feet, will be left with 20 feet of property following right-of-way acquisition of his land, he said.

Rogers maintains that he isn’t in this fight only to save his property. He said he's representing the group because he believes there's a better way to solve the area's traffic and growth problems.

“I have 15 minutes to go over 15 years of direction against the community,” Rogers said. “We’re not here to disagree that work needs to be done in the community for roads. We’re not here to fight, get into political wars or to take sides.

"Why we are here is to support modern solutions and to find the best way to move forward in this. We’re here to support county program (members) who actively listen and adapt to what the community has to say.”

Since the project's inception, most community members have been opposed to the proposal, Rogers said. Citing KMPO meeting minutes from Nov. 2, 2006, only 15 people were in favor of the proposal. Eight others said they would approve if the plan were modified and 80 people were vehemently opposed, Rogers said.

Rogers and other NHB members believe the $300 million price tag is a waste of taxpayer dollars and there are better solutions to traffic problems.

NHB member Ron McGhie offered a professional opinion.

As a retired Los Angeles Department of Water and Power employee, senior survey chief, GPS/GIS coordinator and founder of McGhie & Associates, a land survey, engineering and development firm, McGhie has spent a lot of time investigating other options.

“I joined the No Huetter Bypass group because I know that the Huetter Bypass will not solve the problems facing the area,” McGhie said. “To be clear, we do not question the KMPO’s projected growth or traffic numbers, nor are we against high-speed corridors. We are very much against the location and size of this project. The Huetter Bypass must be stopped now so we can avoid a colossal financial, environmental and infrastructure problem failure.”

McGhie said the Huetter Bypass will not have the intended result.

“What we need are new ways of thinking and a new design,” McGhie said. “The bypass will only get the traffic off the prairie to the problem area of 95 more quickly.”

NHB members asked that the project be abandoned and a new plan considered.

Glenn Miles, KMPO executive director, said he's been in contact with NHB members for a long time, and has reviewed options presented by them.

KMPO has analyzed how many residents would be affected if NHB options were to be implemented, Miles said. He stands by the Huetter Corridor as the least-impactful plan.

“In agreement with Mr. Rogers, the intent is to minimize the number of people impacted. I think it’s also important to realize that when you look at the analysis in its entirety for the county, I agree that the Huetter Corridor does not solve the I-90 issue. The purpose and need for the Huetter Corridor never said anything about making I-90 better.”

Miles reminded guests and board members that the project was based on a report compiled by JUB Engineers and falls in line with the Kootenai County Transportation Plan, 1997-2017.

A further report was prepared by engineers at Ruen-Yeager & Associates who have “done a lot of work in our area and probably know it better than most.”

Many investments and decisions have been made to the project by local jurisdictions, businesses and individuals, Miles said.

“From a planning standpoint, unless the board wants to reintroduce and go through it again, at this point it has now been moved onto ITD,” Miles said. “Any further concerns to be addressed should be brought to them.”

“Is it a done deal?” Gookin asked.

“No, it’s not a done deal,” Miles said. “The environmental survey isn’t done, right-of-way isn’t done and construction funding is not available. I think this is a great time to say, 'Let’s open things up and let’s let the environmental process run its course.'”