Hey Good People,
It has been a while since we sent out an update so bear with me on this long post.
This update will be based on the VICTORIES we have recently won or are in the middle of trying to win. While they may seem small in comparison to the onslaught of development, it is important to remember that a grass roots movement is run by volunteers and the thousands of collective hours put in to this movement gives us momentum.
That momentum just took hold with our wins and we are no longer being ignored, but have instead become a force to be listened to.
Behind these triumphs are dozens of what appear to be failures. But failure is the essence of learning and we are gaining a vast knowledge on the inner workings of this county. Each rabbit hole gets a bit deeper and the deeper we go the more we learn.
Never give up.
*****It is also important to remember that we are NOT AGAINST ALL DEVELOPMENT. Of course, new development will come, but we are fighting to hold that development to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code requirements. Development can and should actually happen in a responsible manner that adheres to the people’s vision as created in the Comprehensive Plan.
The Victory List
HOODOO VALLEY REZONE: After too many approved rezones to count, finally, Jeff Connelly sided with the people and denied the Hoodoo Valley Daum rezone (rezone request was to change the Comp Plan and Zoning Code in order to double the allowed density from 10-acre Ag/Forest to lots to 5-acre Rural Residential lots).
Folks, this is HUGE. Dan McDonald had to sit by and watch both Steve Bradshaw and Jeff Connelly vote against him to deny this rezone. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial at both hearings.
Who made this happen?
The people of Hoodoo Valley made this happen by showing up to numerous hearings. Also, many KBCR folks who do not live in the Hoodoo Valley showed up too.
A special shout out to Doug and Maureen Paterson who brought this rezone to the community’s attention and rallied all their neighbors to fight this rezone. They also hired a lawyer to represent them, paid for by donations from them and the neighborhood people.
This is not just a win for Hoodoo Valley residents, it is the FIRST rezone denial by BOCC. We can use this for future decisions. Momentum!
CAMP BAY ROAD VACATION: The Commissioners gave away to developers a road that ends at the lake with a spectacular view where many county residents have enjoyed going since the early 1900’s. The developers wanted a private gated road for their multi-million-dollar homes.
Fred and Jennifer Arn did not sit back and let this happen. They rallied the community and hired an attorney and won the right for this case to be heard again which forced the county commissioners to hold another hearing. The second time around, the commissioners listened as the room and zoom call was PACKED during a nearly 5-hour hearing.
This time, the commissioners saw the writing on the wall and relented and voted to deny the road vacation. This never would have happened if the Arns had not challenged them in court and if the people had not showed up in droves to tell the commissioners how they felt about giving our property away.
Prior to the hearing, a barbeque on Camp Bay beach brought out around 150 people; many KBCR and Project 7B folks helped with this BBQ and still more showed up. This helped let the commissioner know that we mean to keep this land public. It belongs to us, not to developers.
SKINNER SELLE VALLEY REZONE APPEAL: This is not over. Commissioners Connelly and McDonald voted to approve a rezone on 714 acres in the Selle Valley which would double the density from 35 to 71 lots in an area with unknown water capacity, an overloaded school and roads that cannot handle that density. Fish and Game wrote a letter against this rezone. The people packed the room and zoom again and made the county commissioners sit through a four and a half hour hearing. Bradshaw to his credit went with the Planning and Zoning Commission and voted to deny this rezone.
Did we just hang our heads in defeat? NO!
The appeal time for these cases is quite short. Dave Bowman, myself(Susan Bowman) and Kris Kingsland got to work and put in countless hours writing an awesome appeal (called a reconsideration in the code). Shout out to Patrick Meyers for his great data for this appeal.
Without Kris Kingsland who took many hours driving around to her neighbors and getting them to sign the appeal as “affected” property owners (which is required if it goes to court), there would be no appeal. She got 27 neighbors that cover nearly 90% of the perimeter to the Skinner property to sign. WOW.
KBCR paid for the appeal and for an attorney to advise those of us who wrote the appeal. The appeal document is attached for anyone that wants to read it.
A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REVERSED BY THE NEIGHBORS
A snow sports retailer bought a property in a very rural area of Priest River and proceeded to make it into a snowmobile rental facility complete with overnight stays, snowmobile tours and wedding parties. They also bulldozed a major wetland while building a snowmobile track on the land. The neighbors, not wanting to endure the noise nor have a resort style business in their back yards complained to the Planning Department. Because they spoke up, the applicant was required to apply for a Conditional Use Permit, which the Planning Department approved rubber stamp style.
But the neighbors fought back and showed up in big numbers to the Planning and Zoning hearing. The PnZ sent the applicant back to the drawing board to get traffic reports, wetland reports and a business plan for them to review. Not only did the applicant back down, they sold the property and gave up. While many neighbors in the area fought this permit, shout out to Ramona Sheppard for staying on this case, hounding the Planning Department for details and turning the wetland violation in to the Army Corp of Engineers. Note: when someone bulldozes a large wetland, that water will generally flood the surrounding properties.
KBCR CODE AMENDMENT TO STOP REZONES: This code amendment has been in the works since the summer 2021. I am writing the fourth iteration of it now. This was my idea because as a Planner, I knew that we could force the commissioners to stop rezoning if we changed the zoning code to not allow it. Dave and I have been writing this together. He has the better legal brain and I utilized my Planning experience. The KBCR crew gave us great feedback and it is a collaborative effort. The KBCR board of directors approved this undertaking, and paid for it.
Planning Director, Milton Ollerton pulled some funny business at the last minute and when we went to present our amendment to the Planning and Zoning Commission, there was a “technicality” in our application (that we had submitted 4 months earlier) and we were denied the hearing. That backfired because the Planning and Zoning Commission decided to give us a workshop instead. This turned out to be better because at that workshop, we got “buy in” from the Planning Commissioners who also seem to want to stop the rezones, although that still remains to be seen. A workshop is an informal public hearing where it is easier to speak freely. Additionally, the County Attorney Bill Wilson showed up at that workshop and said that he would help us with legal issues concerning the language in the amendment.
I cannot emphasize the enormity of this victory. While it is not a done deal yet, getting this help from the Planning Commission and the County Attorney is solid gold.
Special shout out to the KBCR folks that put time in for the presentation: Jonna Plante, Doug Gunter, Kris Kingsland and Dave Bowman. And I wish you could all have heard Sherry Anderson-Derosier’s speech at that workshop. It was heartfelt, eloquent and I am sure moved the dial in our direction.
The Planning Commission gave us some homework and asked us to change some language in the amendment and bring it back to another workshop. Bill Wilson will also put his two cents in to the new wording as well. When the revision is complete, a hearing will be held with the Planning Commissioners so that they can make an official recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.
Getting all of this help from the Planning Commission and the County Attorney makes this amendment all the better and more difficult for the county commissioners to deny. Stay tuned on this one as we will want to pack the room when it gets to the county commissioners.
If you want to tune in to the upcoming workshop for the KBCR amendment, it will be held Tuesday, March 22nd, at 4:30pm at the County Building with the Planning and Zoning Commissioners. You can participate by coming or zooming in. To simply watch without participation you can watch it in YouTube. All available on this page.
https://www.bonnercountyid.gov/PZHearings
There are other small victories that I am sure I am forgetting and people I am forgetting to thank.
Shout out to the board of directors of KBCR: Dave Bowman, Chair; Doug Gunter, Vice Chair; Jonna Plante, Treasurer; Sherry Anderson-Derosier, Secretary; and Susan Drumheller, Public Information Officer.
Thanks to Sherry Anderson-Derosier for getting our website up and for our new logo!
Thanks to Project 7B for helping to keep the public informed of upcoming hearings and land use issues.
Most of all, thanks to all of the people of this county who want to save our rural character. Without you, none of this is possible.
Notice the theme in each of these victories—a few people get more people to stand up against those who would take from us what is rightfully ours. This is the essence of why KBCR was started.
We need your help because this fight takes time and money.
You can donate here at our website: https://keepbonnercountyrural.org/
*Note that our website is still under construction, but the donate button works.
If you want to volunteer giving time, send an email to KBCR@mail.com
If you have any Planning-related questions, send them to the email and I will get to them as soon as I can.
Keep attending hearings, keep the pressure on.
Susan Bowman
(Special thanks to Susan Bowman who has been an essential part in helping in every way- and in writing the amendment for our group - KBCR Board)