THANK YOU: To Kootenai County Commissioner Bill Brooks

On April 13, Bayview residents appealed to the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners over a major subdivision with 24 homes on 8 acres destined for our small town. Our primary concern was the opening of a secondary exit that would create a thoroughfare through our quiet neighborhoods. Incidentally, this second egress is not a county code since the subdivision is less than 25 homes.

The new subdivision is a game changer for Bayview. It is out of character with our community, and will create traffic hazards on our narrow, shoulder-less streets.

Bayview residents argued for a gate for emergency vehicles only on the second exit in order to protect our neighborhood from increased traffic and noise.

We were granted a gate in a convoluted compromise that will allow access from the subdivision owners through our neighborhoods, which is still unacceptable. The compromise did not address many of our concerns.

Only Commissioner Bill Brooks had the foresight and backbone to go above what we were asking and state, “A subdivision like this does not fit well in the Bayview community, it’s a nice project but I’m going to vote against it.” Perhaps Commissioner Brooks recognized that unbridled growth is out of control. What Commissioner Brooks said during deliberations is something everyone needs to hear. I wish I could say the same for the other two commissioners.

We are appealing.

SHERYL PUCKETT

Bayview