Kudos to city,
county planners
Bouquets are in order for respective city planners of
Hailey and Bellevue and for Blaine County commissioners for taking decisive steps
that’ll pay off for taxpayers.
"Area-of-impact" is one of those government speak phrases that
glides over the heads of most people, if they’re not already snoozing through a
discussion.
But for Hailey and Bellevue, impact areas are vital and serious matters
that can cause ugly tensions between neighboring cities.
"Area-of-impact" is the unincorporated land between the two
cities. The issue is who will control development.
Sensible negotiations have led Hailey city planner Kathy Grotto and
Bellevue city planner Diane Shay to recommend what seems to be a wise recommendation --
dividing responsibility of 228 acres on the east side of Highway 75, with Hailey assuming
authority over 94 acres, Bellevue assuming 134.
The question now is whether the city councils of Hailey and Bellevue will
follow the work of their city planners and also come to an amiable agreement.
If anything characterized this year in the Wood River Valley it’s
been the boom in new residential and commercial construction -- and the sights and sounds
of huge trucks on Wood River Valley roads carting building materials and trash.
Blaine County commissioners also saw another fallout from the building
boom — gravel and other debris being blown onto streets from trucks and posing damage
problems for car windshields.
Now, under a new county ordinance, truckers must cover their loads before
hitting the road, lest they want to pay a hefty fine ($300) and even spend time in the
county jail (up to six months).
