South county set for more industry
By TRAVIS PURSER
Express Staff Writer
The amount of land headed for industrial development in the county
expanded by 300 acres last week.
During a meeting at the old county courthouse in Hailey Thursday night,
the Blaine County Planning an Zoning Commission revised the county’s 1994
comprehensive plan land-use map to increase the amount of land proposed for industrial
zoning in the Glendale Road area, three miles south of Bellevue, from 1,200 to 1,500
acres.
The land-use map is part of the county’s comp plan, a document meant
to guide county planners for a decade or more.
During the same meeting, the P&Z rezoned approximately 100 acres of
the land, previously under mixed zoning of Heavy Industrial and Agricultural, to Light
Industrial.
Then the P&Z gave approval to landowner Dan Brown to subdivide his
28.7 acres—all under the Light Industrial zoning--into nine lots.
A Light Industrial zone permits uses compatible with adjoining commercial
or residential uses. Activities permitted include light manufacturing, retail and
distribution facilities.
The P&Z’s actions become final if the board of county
commissioners gives its approval later this month or in November.
The P&Z’s action was criticized by two members of the public.
"I’m not for sprawl," Jay Coleman told the P&Z
commissioners. "There’s always a good reason to spread out from the commercial
centers, but the word for it is sprawl. I’d like a board someday to say this is where
the asphalt ends, this is where the green begins, and that’s the way it’s going
to be."
Coleman asked the P&Z to have developers pay for a study of the impact
the changes would have on surrounding areas and on traffic. The P&Z did not respond to
that request.
However, chair Tom Bowman defended the P&Z’s actions. He said a
lot of heavy industrial activity already takes place in the area and that the activity is
incompatible with neighboring residences. Rezoning all the land would discourage the
incompatible residential uses, he said.
Also, he argued that the change makes good planning sense.
"Our…comp plan really designates this area as compatible for
industrial uses," he said. "It doesn’t discourage industrial uses. It says
if we’re going to have them, this would be a great place."
Thursday’s actions began over a month ago with the rezone request by
Dan Brown. That request created a flurry of similar requests by his neighbors, which in
part prompted the P&Z to visit the area two weeks ago to get a feel for the land
before making changes.
The Blaine County Board of Commissioners has not yet scheduled a date to
review the P&Z’s recommendations for final approval.
