County P&Z to take up Tungsten pit ... again |
| August 13, 2012 |
|
A reconstituted Boundary County Planning and
Zoning Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 23, and once again take up an
application that has vexed Boundary County for
years; whether or not to approve a seven-acre
gravel pit in north Boundary County proposed by
Tungsten Holdings. The seven acre pit just south of Porthill was approved by Boundary County in 2005, on the thinking that gravel was necessary for growth, and that gravel of quality came where the proper rocks were found. But a concern arose that such a pit adversely affected a neighboring cattle breeding operation, from adverse affects to the cattle to the potential for de-watering the wells they drink from. The owners of the ranch took the case to the Idaho Supreme Court and won, not so much on the merits of their case as on shortcomings of local land use ordinances, which, at the time, didn't refer at all to gravel pits or mines. In the interim, a new county ordinance was written; one that does set standards for mining. In September, 2011, the application was heard under the new rules; the P&Z commission concurred with the initial decision to approve, but they took advantage of a provision that allowed the hard decisions to be forwarded to elected county commissioners. Rick Dinning, representing Tungsten Holdings, requested that the application be table to provide time to address concerns; at his request those answers will be heard August 23. While the evolution of the Tungsten application has been convoluted, the makeup of the Planning and Zoning Commission scheduled to meet August 23 has gone through some convolutions itself. Long-time zoning administrator Mike Weland, who had a stroke April 22 that left him physically unable to retain the position, left his position as a county employee but volunteered to be a member of P&Z and was accepted. Dan Studer, who was chair of P&Z, resigned his post after county commissioners determined that he was best able to fill the administrator's position; he will be ex-officio clerk of the meeting while members must elect a member to fill his position as chair. While Weland filled one vacancy, Studer's slot has become vacant, and the planning and zoning commission still has a vacancy to be filled. Any one interested in serving is asked to send a letter of interest to the planning and zoning office, P.O. Box 419, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805. |