Efforts to consider if Bellevue should work to establish an area of city impact gained momentum at an informational meeting between the Board of Blaine County Commissioners and Bellevue City officials. Bellevue Mayor John Barton requested a meeting Thursday, Feb. 10, with the county commissioners to gain an understanding of the county's planning goals concerning lands outside of the city's legal boundaries.
"This is a big political question for Bellevue—whether it wants to expand its boundaries and what it wants to see there," Barton stated.
Barton said he requested the meeting to clarify the commission's commitment and timeframe in establishing an area of city impact.
"I come before you to get a clear idea of what ...your goals are, because we have to allocate our resources," Barton said.
The area of city impact concerns the lands outside of the city's legal boundaries that are in the unincorporated area of the county and have not yet been annexed into the city. Unlike other cities in the county, Bellevue does not have an area of city impact. An area of city impact would require the city to map and articulate uses for lands that could be annexed in the future.
County Commissioner Tom Bowman told Bellevue City officials, including Barton, Planning and Zoning Administrator Jacki Saul and Council members Jon Anderson, Tammy Eaton and Joanna Ehrmantraut, that the board desires to work with the cities in the county to establish an area of city impact for each city. The county's goals also include establishing clear city limits and working through joint bodies to establish the regions of city impact.
Barton expressed anxiety over Bellevue's ability to participate in discussion with the county, due to its limited resources. He expressed concern for changes to the county's zoning standards.
Commissioners Bowman and Dennis Wright encouraged the officials to stay abreast of the county's discussion and responded that there had been no detailed discussion of a rezone. Commissioner Sarah Michael did not attend the meeting.
