Hello all,

It’s been a while since we last updated you on KBCR happenings. We’ve been pretty busy but have also pivoted toward helping other groups in the county that seek to keep our wonderful county rural.

A short update:

County Commissioners:

In short, we can say that Luke Omodt has proven that he is not willing to listen to the people of the county. His record is already abysmal and he has taken to even repeating the same old, tired, false phrases that Dan McDonald said to justify the urbanization of our county. Dan did hand pick him so it stands to reason that it went this way.

Steve Bradshaw has always been what he is and of course has not changed. Luke and Steve continue to march toward urbanization. This proves that elections really do matter.

A bright spot! Asia Williams has consistently fought for the people and she does so with unwavering intelligence, aplomb and mastery of the issues. She is only one and regularly gets outvoted by the other two. She has pulled back the curtain and they don’t like it, but she doesn’t care. She is a commissioner for The People.

The Skinner Rezone court case:
   
We lost our court case against the county for rezoning 714 acres and now the density can be doubled. This is bad news but the good news is that we didn’t lose on the merits of the case per se, but rather because our attorney, after showing how the county and applicant did not follow the code, failed to demonstrate how that prejudiced the petitioners’ rights. Lesson learned.

The affordable housing RV Park in Blanchard:

We have been helping a very active neighborhood group in the Blanchard area fighting against an affordable housing RV Park. We have also asked the county to change the zoning code so that these housing parks cannot go in to our rural zones (more on this in later updates).

This court case is in the phase of briefs between our attorney and the county’s assistant prosecutor Bill Wilson. It comes on the heels of the Skinner loss and we have learned much. The same mistakes will not be made and we have a new attorney Norm Semanko who has thus far done a stellar job. We remain hopeful to win this one.

The Comprehensive Plan:

Luke and Steve have unfortunately continued the practices by Dan McDonald and they march toward a Comprehensive Plan that will not serve the people of this county. As they do this, they are updating the Zoning Code to make it easier to rezone to higher densities.

That said, the Planning Commission can be worked with and there are some good folks on this commission that care. They will listen if we get enough people to tell them. We will be asking you to attend the update for the Land Use chapter so that we can stop the rezoning.

There’s so much more, but let’s keep this short. Keep the faith—we are always just one election away from changing this urbanization of our rural county. If we removed both Luke and Steve in the next election, we can still save it. In the meantime, show up and let them know that you still care. Your next opportunity is to support a great group of folks in the Hoodoo Valley who are fighting hard against a Commercial and Residential Rezone (see below this letter information). If allowed, this rezone would allow the property owner to not only build commercial but also subdivide to acre lots and even build apartments where the current zoning allows only 5 acre lots.

That’s it for now.
   
 Dave Bowman Chairman, KBCR

YOU’VE SEEN THE SIGNS REGARDING the REZONE regarding 11.8 acre rezone off of May and Dufort Roads?

WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

Your neighbors and residents across the county are fighting to stop a Comprehensive Plan amendment intended to support spot zoning which would ultimately create a commercial property use for an 11.8-acre parcel at the S/W corner of Vay & Dufort Roads. 

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

·       Are you concerned about unrestrained development and rising crime?

·       Can our infrastructure and aquifer handle new commercial development?

·       Would you like your voice to be heard?

WHAT YOU CAN DO

We need your help!  Please email Bonner County to tell them you do NOT want this change approved.  End spot-zoning, and countless amendments to the Comp Plan. Upgraded infrastructure MUST come before more development.  Our Rural community needs to be saved.  Simply state your opposition to the change requested in File #AM0002-23 due to your concerns and request the board deny the application. Submit your comments by June 6th to make your voice heard and try to attend June 14th at 1:30pm. Please CC or BCC us on the email you send. Thank you!

SEND email to:

planning@bonnercountyid.gov

NEED MORE INFO? Rural.Lifers@gmail.com or 7bRuralLifers@gmail.com

Please make a copy of this and give to your neighbors & share on social media