MY TURN: I can't support the Open Space Bond
On Nov. 7, Kootenai County voters are being asked to approve an Open Space Bond for up to $50 million. While I have been an advocate of open space for decades, this is not the proper way to ask the taxpayer for money. Why?
If a building contractor came to you and said write me a check for a million dollars and I’ll build you a house that you desperately need; would you do it? Probably not without a good deal of discussion and a set of plans. I see no difference here. Let’s have the discussion, create a publicly supported plan and then move forward.
When you look at open space preservation and planning in the county, where do you look for success? Certainly the cities have done a remarkable job. Hayden, Rathdrum, Coeur d’Alene, and Post Falls have planned for and provided literally thousands of acres of open space over the last few decades. The state, BLM and US Forest Service provide thousands of acres of parks and open space. The housing development industry has provided hundreds of acres of parks and open space throughout the county. Most all of this has been planned and coordinated in the public forum of Planning & Zoning. Almost all of these efforts began with a plan. The track record is clear and impressive.
The key to all of this success has been a plan or plans. The Centennial Trail has a plan. Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes has a plan. The state, BLM and US Forest Service have recreation plans. Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and other communities have master park plans. Kootenai County has no plan, even though one is requested as a policy in the Comprehensive Plan and has been a policy for the last twenty years or more. Why is there no plan? Certainly the need and the priority is there.
According to the county, if you provide the $50 million, they will buy some open space. Where is a plan? The Parks and Waterways director, and the Open Space and Park Development Citizens Advisory Board will provide recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. Ask yourself how much open space or parks has the county provided in the last few decades?
According to the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, Kootenai County, parks and waterways owned 60 acres (mostly boat launches and parking). There are approximately 80 acres at the fairgrounds. The county has seven upland parks. Compared to other agencies and communities, has the county done its share? Even though it is mentioned, there is no Citizens Advisory Board. Elements of the Comprehensive plan fall under the responsibilities of the Kootenai County Planning & Zoning Commission.
A publicly supported plan is essential to the success of preserving open space and providing recreation opportunities to Kootenai County. We can do it if we have leaders committed to following the policies found in the Comprehensive Plan. We have a dedicated staff at the county and a Planning & Zoning Commission ready for the task. Any plan should coordinate and communicate with all the community and agency efforts within the county and have a wide range of funding options to consider, including bonds, fees, real estate transfer tax, voluntary contributions and gifts, grants, etc.
Collin Coles is a long-term resident of Kootenai County. He has over 40 years of local land use planning experience. He retired from the city of Post Falls and has held planning positions and worked as a consultant for many of the county’s communities and the county. He has been a past vice chair of the Kootenai County Planning & Zoning Commission, served on the Airport Advisory Board, and serves on the Post Falls Urban Renewal Commission.