MINUTES

Boundary County Planning & Zoning Commission

February 17, 2005

Members present: Jim Paulus, Chairman, Doug Reoch, Rod Barcklay, Tom Hollingsworth, John Kellogg, Barry Davis, and Toby Schnuerle.  Member absent due to surgery, Jane Kirby.  Staff present:  Rae Jeanne Adams. 

Presiding Chairman Jim Paulus called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 

A video entitled A Guide to Growth Management for Idaho City and County Officials was played for the benefit of the applicants and those in attendance for the public hearing.  After the 10-minute video, the public hearing continued.

A motion by Doug Reoch was offered to approve the January Minutes as read.  Rod Barcklay seconded the Motion.

Chairman Jim Paulus, reading the Chairman’s Script with procedures, then opened the public hearing.

SUP 05-01 commenced with MARK R. MUNROE, applicant, giving testimony to build and sell portable mini barns and small wood-frame structures on skids.

The hearing was then opened to the public to speak in favor:  NORMAN WEYER, a neighbor to the north of Mr. Munroe spoke in favor.  Mr. Weyer indicated applicant should be able to make a reasonable living on his property.

DIANE RUSSLER, spoke as uncommitted with a question as a neighbor living across the road about how many buildings would be displayed.  Board Member Schnuerle questioned the applicant same subject as to number of buildings, and applicant responded with a starting point would be in between five (5) and ten (10).  JOHN RUSSLER, husband to Diane joined the questioning expressing concerns regarding rural areas turning into business areas.  Mr. Russler’s concern would be to see the buildings visually along the highway and that one small step would grow into the highway corridor being commercial.

Mr. Munroe gave further testimony he would like the opportunity for this small business to survive, had other concerns regarding the acreage along the highway, wanted to put this pasture-acreage to good use, and that he could make the barns discretely but wanted the okay from adjoining property owners.

Chairman Paulus discussed he felt the application was within our Comprehensive Plan and Board Member Schnuerle agreed.  Board Member Barcklay made a comment if this application would have been for a used car lot, he might vote against it but for this application, he was for this business.  Barcklay indicated if a lot of small businesses were equal going in that there might be too many.  Concern was discussed as to public’s reaction regarding the blanket commercial corridor as discussed in past public hearings.  Board Member Hollingsworth was agreeable to the fact that mini barns would not be a sight along the highway and that the barns would be built to the backside of the property and then placed along the highway. Construction would be out of view of the public along the highway to stay conducive in the area and to be kept neat.  Hollingsworth agreed this would be a good business to be performed in an orderly and neat fashion.  Applicant indicated the land was currently just weeds and this would make the area look neater.

Chairman Paulus called for any stipulations and a Motion was made by Tom Hollingsworth with the stipulation the area around the barn to be kept orderly and neat, and the place of display orderly and net.  Board Member Davis indicated stipulation was a pretty broad term.  The Motion was seconded by Toby Schnuerle.  The Motion carried.

There were no oppositions given in public testimony to this application.

Applicant, Mr. Munroe made a closing statement testifying the operation would be an extremely low impact, that the buildings would be built to the west of the property, and the construction would not be visible from the highway and that the buildings would only be on display along the highway as the finished product. 

LLA 05-01 – application for a Lot Line Adjustment by Tony Lee Kucherry regarding SUNNY SLOPE ESTATES with Mr. Kucherry giving testimony expressing his main concern for family property.  Different interests between the brothers had arisen to split up part ownership of the property.

 Mr. Kucherry testified there was a natural tree line, which was a part of the line adjustment to preserve the area for the old family homestead.  The three brothers requested the trade of land for land so that the brothers could come up with a better division of their property.

The hearing was then open for public to speak in favor of this Lot Line Adjustment and JOHN MILLER read a statement into the record as being in favor.

There was no testimony given in opposition.

Applicant did not desire to make a closing statement.

A Motion was made by Toby Schnuerle to approve the Lot Line Adjustment, which was seconded by John Kellogg, and the Motion carried unanimously.

AM 05-01 – application by Jeffrey L. Byler, dba TRUSSTEK, INC., followed with applicant giving opening statement as a proposal to change the commercial zoning to industrial.  Board Member Barcklay questioned what applicant planned to do with the backside of the property, and applicant responded with the potential for forthcoming businesses.  Chairman Paulus gave caution to the difference between commercial and industrial by referencing Chapter 7 of the Zoning Ordinances, Sections 5 and 6.

Those speaking in favor, neutral, or opposing:  NONE

The hearing was then closed for public discussion.

The Planning & Zoning Board then discussed this project was what they had been attempting to gain in their past endeavors and subject application was conducive to their goals as a Board.

A Motion was made by Barry Davis to accept this zone change, which was seconded by Rod Barcklay.  The motion carried unanimously.

The public hearings were then satisfied and closed.

Mayor Darrell Kerby, Robin Ponsness, representing the Boundary Economic Development Council (BEDC) and Patty Perry representing the Tribe then joined the meeting.

Mrs. Ponsness expressed the BEDC wanted to work in conjunction with the Boundary County Planning & Zoning in desiring our community to grow not only with the business and industry side but to preserve the rural way of life of our citizens.  She expressed the BEDC responds to people looking at our community with the typical business request to zoning, and that they want the commercial zone in place to commence their business; not wanting to invest capital into an industrial facility and then have a subdivision start up next door.  She expressed their attempt to do land use planning and to involve the community to face all the concerns and desires of the community.  The BEDC has polled the community in the past as to their anticipations. 

The Boundary County Planning & Zoning Board indicated understanding as to what the BEDC desires but the P&Z expressed their need for support from all entities.  Board Member Hollingsworth indicated that the community needs industrial parks and that we need to plan for these.  Hollingsworth indicated we need hundreds of acres for these industrial parks but Board Member Davis indicated that the farming area would then be lost, which would be in opposition to our Comprehensive Plan.  Chairman Paulus indicated the disagreement that public opinion carried a lot of weight and that the public had indicated they wanted the commercial to be established on a case-by-case basis.  It was expressed the Three-Mile Area is conducive for the commercial use but consideration has to be given that the commercial area be developed around the infrastructure to accommodate the commercial area.  The Louisiana-Pacific (Crown Pacific) area was discussed as an appropriate area.

Mayor Kerby apologized for the public hearing regarding the negative impact on the P&Z Board regarding their November, 2004, Amendment to the Zone Map Public Hearing and not receiving support from the City of Bonners Ferry and the BEDC.  Mayor Kerby expressed their desire to start the public dialog again to set up a forum and to get the discussions going again.  Doug Reoch indicated the public input was always the intent of the P&Z Board.

Chairman Paulus indicated the environment was very hostile from the community discussing the commercial growth.  It was determined that the P&Z Board should not carry the ball and that other entities should start community communications before the P&Z Board would commence their public hearings.  It was mutually determined that in order to compete for the industries, we all would need to have an area set aside available for the prospective businesses to start.

Chairman Paulus recommended that the BEDC get the information out to the public and educate them on what the various entities were attempting to accomplish.  Rod Barcklay indicated a desire for controlled growth and to concentrate in specific areas, i.e., the “public process and democracy”. It was indicated the P&Z Board had to make decisions for the complete county – the totality of the county.  Board Member John Kellogg suggested the BEDC gather information from the public and target what the public will accept and then present to the Boundary County Planning & Zoning Board.  Chairman Paulus agreed.

Additional discussion was offered by John Kellogg and the abuse of the gift deeding.  Toby Schnuerle indicated his impression of the gift deeding was intended to give property to children who otherwise might not be able to have the benefit of real property.

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.