Don’t be fooled by county code changes

Dear Editor,
 With unprecedented growth at our doorstep, our existing county land use rules are perhaps more relevant than ever and here’s why.  
 Contrary to what some are telling us, farmers and ranchers as well as every other landowner in our county, still have the right and ability to split their land.  
 When our existing codes were established, framers believed four splits of every existing “original” parcel would still preserve the rural character of our county. It would give existing and future property owners an affordable opportunity to live their dream without undue impact on infrastructure.  
 They also provided variances and special use permits to allow additional uses upon review. Then as now, the subdivision process was the tool for higher density and here’s why.  
 As our population grows, the cost to provide services to these folks also increases. The subdivision process provides the review and approval needed to ensure those costs are mitigated by the developer, not by existing property owners.  
 Instead of a driveway every 300 feet on our county roads or unpaved “private” roads that future homeowners will seek the county to maintain, the subdivision process allows growth where it is most appropriate and ensures the developer shoulders those costs.
 As should now be clear, the proposed changes are nothing more than a way for existing and future parcel holders, to bypass the subdivision process and allow development helter-skelter and let the rest of us pay for the impact while they pocket the profits.  Say nothing of the impact on the quality of life for the rest of us.  
 If you think traffic and density is bad in Ada County, imagine what it would look and be like if that growth had not been constrained by subdivision regulations.  
 In the short term, the affects in Washington County might not seem as dramatic, but trust me, you’ll feel it.  And if RV’s are permitted to become permanent homes which by code are not subject to property taxation, guess who’s going to be picking up their share?
 Don’t be fooled. These aren’t “minor” changes and it’s not about “private property rights.”  
Tony Edmondson
Weiser, Idaho

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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