Balance threatened

Blaine County should pursue affordable housing for permanent working residents, but not at the expense of its character and more than 20 years of planning.

The county is reviewing an ordinance that would allow high-density affordable housing in low-density areas far from city centers.

It is doing so despite the fact it has not pursued other better options.

In its first pass at the ordinance, the county wisely decided to axe provisions that would have allowed development of commercial services, like a small grocery store or café, as part of an affordable housing development in the county. However, it is clinging to the idea that it must sacrifice the low-density character of the valley on the altar of affordable housing.

It doesn’t make sense. High density housing—whatever the price tag—belongs close to or inside the valley’s cities. That’s where the water and sewer systems are. That’s where the services are. High-density developments should only be considered in the cities’ zones of impact, areas that may be annexed some day.

The county isn’t limited to pursuing affordable housing on lands in the county. It can, and should, pursue affordable housing opportunities inside the valley’s cities. It should also look at requiring developers to include affordable units in every subdivision approved in the county.

High-density developments in the wrong place, no matter how well intended, will threaten the carefully crafted rural-urban balance and invite the kind of sprawl most people come here to avoid.