Proposed comp plan changes a disaster
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March 12, 2014 |
As you may know, the upcoming county
comprehensive plan proposed revision for chapter
13 and 14 will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March
18, in the county extension building. This
proposed revision by the planning and zoning
commission is a total disaster for our county.
For example, they want to make sure there isn’t
any kind of setback for development (buildings,
etc.) along streams and rivers from the high
water mark. If you care about water quality of
our streams and rivers, this should concern you.
The county used to require a 75 foot setback
from the high water mark of a class I stream and
a 35 foot setback from class II streams. That’s
the same distance the Forest Practices Act
requires for timber harvesting. The Forest
practices Act doesn’t cover development along
streams and rivers.
I ask why wouldn’t county officials want to
protect water quality? Clean water is the
essence of life.
Presently, chapters 14.3.4.2 thru 14.3.6.1 and
14.8.3 recognizes the importance of water
quality and wildlife habitat.
P&Z wants to allow commercial signs along the
scenic byway. Do you want to see commercial
signs all along highways 95, 1, and 2? Do you
think tourists’ spending money in our county
would enjoy seeing rows of commercial signs?
Doing this would detract from the scenic beauty
God has given our county.
The P&Z wants to take away any phrase that
refers to the “rural quality of life."
Everyone I’ve talked to enjoys and wants to
preserve the rural character of Boundary County.
So why would they take out any reference to
this?
This sounds suspicious to me and other people
I’ve talked to about this.
There are more issues too long for this letter.
If these proposed changes happen Boundary County
will set itself up to be just like the places
people are trying to get away from.
Please speak up to protect what we have. Once
it’s gone, it’s gone forever. |
Tim Patton, ASLA
Naples |
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