Washington County to once again take up setback issue

Dear Editor:

 On Aug. 19, 2024 the Washington County commissioners will be hearing content from Planning and Zoning (P&Z) and information from residents. The title on the public filing is County setbacks for buildings! However, it is so much more! 

 It apparently includes road easements that expand the county’s easements on property owners. With that said, my understanding is they want wider road easements for all county roads! Take the current from the center of the road to the property pins and add 10 or 15 feet more easement directly into your property. 

 The P&Z is apparently worried about the County population expanding and not being able to easily expand the width of the roads. Another thought is they could control how close you build to the road by expanding the easements. 

 Are the County residents willing to have additional footage taken from them? I’m not! 

 Taking property can come in two forms. The taking may be physical, which means that the county literally takes the property from its owner under eminent domain which includes compensation for the land, or the taking may be constructive (also called a regulatory taking), which means that the county restricts the owner’s rights so much that the county action becomes the equivalent of a physical seizure. The P&Z is pushing regulatory. 

 Make your voices heard! Contact the county commissioners and voice your opinion!

Mark Curry

Weiser, Idaho