Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Warm Springs Preserve plan didn't get hearing

Guest opinion by Scott Boettger


Guest opinion by SCOTT BOETTGER
Scott Boettger is executive director of the Hailey-based Wood River Land Trust.

For 17 years I have been in the land protection business. Before coming to the Wood River Valley nearly nine years ago, I worked for an organization that protected the working landscapes of my heritage in eastern Pennsylvania.

It is personally rewarding to me to see people speaking emotionally about protecting places they love. But I have also seen how this emotion does little to address the real-life financial issues of private property rights.

The Wood River Land Trust signed on to such a controversial project as the Warm Springs Ranch Preserve (which would have included a nature center) specifically to protect as much of the property as possible. Yes, with the proposed plan the golf course is gone, but for once a project was proposed that protected a majority of a significant property and assured it would be available for all people for all times.

The Land Trust and the Environmental Resource Center never got a chance to describe the vision of how the preserve and nature center would have been a treasure and positive focal point for the community.

There has been talk that we should not fear "Plan B" because it will only mean that only large lots could be developed on the site." That is correct, only large lots could be developed ... but that is my greatest fear.

It has also been stated that "we are surrounded by open space, why do we need more?" What we are actually surrounded by are steep slopes, which are beautiful to look at but inaccessible. The Bald Mountain Connector Trail, one of the elements of the preserve plan, would have opened up hundred of acres to hikers, joggers and bikers right out their back doors.

The only thing that we have more than enough of is private lands. Publicly accessible lands are disappearing. Over 97 percent of the stream frontage in Ketchum is privately owned and is unavailable to anyone except those fortunate enough to call it "my backyard."

Being an avid fisherman, I am grateful that the city has been so diligent about providing fishing accesses but, with the exception of Rotary Park, there is no place to stroll along the river without getting wet. This eliminates all but the most ardent fisherman from enjoying the resource. However, the plan for the Warm Springs Preserve incorporated public access to a restored Warm Springs Creek.

It does my heart good to see and hear the passion people have for this land; the only unfortunate element is that some have regressed to vilifying others to try and prove their point. This is truly regrettable and not good for individuals or the community as a whole.

As the adage says, change is the only thing that remains constant, and the continued erosion of old Ketchum is tragic, but denying this annexation does not change that. The preserve provided an unprecedented amount of open space for the future—for all ages, all physical abilities and all economic brackets.

We all want the same thing ... to keep as much recreation on the property and insure public access (as defined by the comp plan). Recognizing it is private property and that the landowners' rights need to be respected, the Land Trust worked with other organizations, individuals, neighbors and the landowners to voluntarily provide trails, tennis, restoration of the creek and uplands, historic preservation and public access. In my 17 years of experience, this project was a thoughtful proposal that did more than can usually be expected to balance property rights with public benefit.




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