Selle Valley rezone hearing set

A citizen appeal of a county decision to increase density in the Selle Valley will be heard on April 20 by Bonner County commissioners.

The appeal challenges the Feb. 9 decision to double the allowed density of 714 acres adjacent to Rapid Lightning and Colburn-Culver roads near Northside Elementary School.

The commissioners overruled the Planning and Zoning Commission’s unanimous recommendation to deny the request to rezone the area from 20-acre minimum lots to 10-acre minimum lot sizes. In response, 28 neighbors, together with Keep Bonner County Rural, filed a motion for reconsideration.

On the advice of their attorney Bill Wilson, commissioners agreed to a limited hearing based on one point in the motion. As outlined in the motion for reconsideration, Idaho Statute 67-6511 specifically states that when considering a proposed zone change the commissioners must analyze any “adverse impacts upon the delivery of services by any political subdivision providing public services, including school districts.” 

Don and Julie Skinner and James and Diane Otis are requesting a zone change from Ag/Forest 20 to Ag/Forest 10 designation.  

In addition to concerns about roads, neighbors are also concerned about availability of water, impacts on the neighboring school, potential for wildfire and other impacts that may not be allowed to be addressed under the rules of the hearing.

The hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. on April 20 in the first floor conference room of the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 U.S. 2.

The public can attend and comment either in person or via Zoom.

Information on how to attend by Zoom is available at the Bonner County Planning website at bonnercountyid.gov/BOCCHearings.