County zoning and subdivision ordinance adopted

Boundary County Commissioners on Monday reconvened a public hearing to give final consideration to a document six years in the making, taking just half an hour and accepting no additional public comment to approve and adopt a new Boundary County Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance and map, laying out land use law for the decade ahead. That ordinance will go into effect November 3 on legal publication in the Bonners Ferry Herald.

In November, 2005, responding to public concerns that developers were running rough-shod over residents in the wake of a land boom, Commissioners directed their Planning and Zoning Commission to review the County Comprehensive Plan, and with the assistance of more than 100 Boundary County residents, they wrought a complete revision which was adopted in 2008, charting land use goals the county should aspire to.

Since then, work has been on-going on the development of ordinances to establish a set of laws by which to attain those goals; a process that has been, from the outset, fraught with contention.

“This is a county established by people who relied on themselves and their own sacrifices and efforts to earn a living off the land by which to raise their families, and who endured a lot of hardship and toil to do that,” said zoning administrator Mike Weland. “But in the past 30 years, this has also become somewhat of a retirement community, a place where people who’ve earned their living elsewhere and can afford a place in the country to build the home of their dreams come to settle down, at least until their first hard snow flies, and where making a living off the natural resources of this county has become more and more difficult. Trying to establish a set of land use rules to please all the disparate interests in this county is an impossibility, and I have no false hopes that commissioners accomplished the impossible tonight, but I think, based on my 14 years in trying to find a balance as administrator, that this represents a big step in the right direction.”

Weland said that even before the ordinance was approved Monday there were already faults pointed out and lawsuits threatened, even though the new ordinance is, as yet, untested.

“We’ve been listening to anyone who would make a comment on land use in this county since 2005,” Weland said. “The three people we elected as our county commissioners and all the members they’ve appointed since 2005 to serve on this county’s planning and zoning commission have heard from and considered the many voices on all sides of every issue that’s been raised, often over and over again. As administrator, I’ve had the easy job, just putting what I hear into words. This ordinance by no means pleases everybody on any side of the issues that have been raised, but I think we've reached a good compromise that will work if, at base, we all remember that we're neighbors first and foremost.

"While it’s not always been fun, I’m very grateful to have had the privilege to work with a group of people able to look beyond any particular interest or point of view to consider and take into account what will best benefit us all, and actually provide a service.

“I am absolutely convinced that, in practice, this new ordinance will serve this community well. Give this ordinance and comp plan a chance to work, and it’s my thought that even those who feel that their concerns were ignored will recognize that their voices were heard, and taken into account.”

The new zoning ordinance and zone map will take effect Thursday, November 3, on legal publication in the Bonners Ferry Herald.

The Boundary County Zoning and Subdivision ordinance is now available on-line on the county website as is the initial draft of the zone map, which has been approved but has yet to be finished and signed by commissioners. You can read the zoning and subdivision ordinance by clicking here; you can view the unadorned zoning map by clicking here.

At the time of publication, the map has no legend, compass rose or signature block. Weland is working with county GIS specialist Gary Falcon to have a final map ready, signed and on-line by the time the ordinance goes into effect.

That map and the new ordinance, are available for review in the Planning and Zoning Office, Room 16 at the Boundary Courthouse during regular office hours, and the administrator is available to address any person or group regarding what the new ordinance means and how it affects what people in the county can do with their land, and what steps are needed.