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Growth not the panacea developers promise |
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December 21, 2017 |
It is with great sadness that I’ve
observed the transitioning of Boundary County
from rural agricultural to suburbia. We are now
experiencing a level of chain migration that
will exponentially increase the number of
residents and eliminate our traditional rural
way of life, very soon.
Regionally, there has been a population
explosion that has resulted in Coeur d’Alene
merging with Spokane. That same pattern is
rapidly pushing through the Sandpoint area, with
Boundary County now on the northern edge of that
trend.
Of course, there will always be members of our
community who will have excuses for why we
“need” to promote more growth and development.
Granted, if we continue this pattern, some
locals will become wealthy, i.e. realtors and
developers, but at what cost to those who live
here because of what it is and not because of
the potential to make a quick buck?
If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand
times.
“We need to create more jobs so our kids don’t
have to leave the area to find employment.”
Well, guess what? As growth brings more industry
to the area, so will more move here for those
jobs. The American way is about competition, not
entitlements. With that growth comes more
congestion, more traffic, more pollution, more
crime, more taxes … more of the urban chaos that
those moving here are bringing with them.
And while on that topic, just why are the urban
exiles coming here, then encouraging their
family and friends to do likewise? Do they
really have Idaho values and interests, or might
it be due to the fact that they can sell their
“starter homes” in San Francisco, Seattle, LA,
New York, etc., for $1.5 million, then buy
“cheap” property to build fancy houses with
pretty views on small parcels throughout the
county, with hundreds of thousands left to put
into the bank?
Do we really need to subsidize their lifestyles
while they destroy ours?
There are things that can be done to take a
stand against the plundering of Boundary County,
and maybe there are still enough of us around
who care. Relatively speaking, there is no money
in preservation, and those who have the most to
gain financially will always be the most vocal
in promoting their own interests.
Unfortunately, the days of the Wild West, where
one could defend their territory, are long gone.
In this era, the only remaining authority with
the ability to protect our lands and limit
expansion is local government and, more
specifically, the Planning and Zoning
department, under the direction of the County
Commissioners.
Certainly, there are some regulations already in
place, but improvements are possible and needed.
I would propose that the following steps be
taken aggressively to protect the future of
Boundary County.
First, we need leadership that is serious about
controlling growth and development. We need to
stop allowing those aforementioned influential
groups the upper hand in determining our future.
I would venture that the silent majority of
established Boundary County residents are
sickened by what is happening here, and would
support more serious efforts to keep growth in
check.
Second, minimum acreage requirements for home
construction should be at least doubled from the
current minimums. Third, only one division of a
land parcel, assuming minimum acreage
requirements are still met, would be permitted
in a ten-year period.
Next, any construction by a non-resident of
Idaho would have a substantial surcharge, i.e.
$50,000 or greater, to help mitigate the impact
on our infrastructure. A similar plan to this
latter proposal has been established in Ontario,
Canada, and for the same purpose.
Another good plan using the Canadian model is
the concept of the Agriculture Land Reserve
(ALR), whereby prime agricultural lands are
protected from development and non-agricultural
uses.
Finally, we need to get smarter about selling
properties and start pricing them at levels
proportionate to what those moving here have
sold their urban domains for. Simply stated,
don’t be so quick to succumb to a lower counter
offer. Once again, why should those invading our
rural lands be rewarded?
I’m sure the statements and proposals I’ve made
will result in some lashing out in retaliation,
especially by the “movers and shakers” in the
community. However, one would have to have their
head buried in the sand to not see that we are
at an extremely critical point in the future of
Boundary County, where innovative and drastic
measures are required to preserve our rural
tradition.
If we don’t act now, Boundary County will look
more like the Spokane Valley within the next two
decades. Is that really what the citizens of
this special place want for their future? |
Stuart Nelson, Jr.
Bonners Ferry |
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