Creators of the proposed Blaine County 2025 zoning ordinances continued to receive heavy public criticism as the hearing process moved into its second week.
More than 30 citizens on Wednesday addressed the county's planning staff and Chris Duerksen, the managing director of Clarion Associates, a national land-use consulting firm that was hired to assist the county in the 2025 process.
Only a handful of people offered outright support for the endeavor, but most critics conceded that aside from certain details in the ordinances they supported the overall 2025 process.
Concerns were varied but focused primarily on the potential violation of private property rights; the clarity of the 2025 goals and objectives; the effectiveness of the proposed ordinances; and the speed at which the process is evolving.
How did we get here?
The Blaine County 2025 campaign was initiated by the Blaine County Commission in January 2005 to address future growth concerns.
The county hired Clarion to assist in a public outreach campaign and develop a strategy to deal with the anticipated growth surge.
According to Clarion, the feedback collected indicated that the majority of the public wants to focus growth and density near the cities and preserve open space and natural resources. Four zoning ordinances were drafted by the county's planning staff and members of Clarion to best meet those objectives.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will likely render a decision on the four proposed ordinances in late April.
It can recommend approval, recommend denial, or recommend approval with a series of amendments and revisions. The recommendations will be made to the Blaine County Commission, which will then hold its own set of public hearings.
Wednesday's hearing
Several residents expressed outrage that the proposed downzoning in certain areas in the ordinances will devalue their property since the potential for subdividing land would be greatly reduced.
"Prepare yourself for a massive barrage of legal action," said Dennis Kavanagh, of Hailey.
But Tim Graves, Blaine County's chief deputy prosecuting attorney, said downzoning some county land would not violate any laws.
"As long as a residual value remains in the property, there are no takings," Graves said.
Still, Ketchum resident Mickey Garcia called the entire process "wrong and silly."
"It's based on paranoia," said Garcia, a candidate for the Blaine County Commission. "You're taking people's rights away."
Others, like Trent Jones, a member of the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission who works for Hall and Hall, an international ranch real estate firm, argued that downzoning would actually boost property values in the long run.
And John Stevenson, who owns a ranch south of U.S. Highway 20, said he was "hearing a lot of nonsense" that the ordinances don't protect agricultural land.
"If you want to get rid of agriculture, put a subdivision next door," Stevenson said. "If you want to see ranch values go down, put a subdivision next door."
Other concerns focused on the validity of the land maps used to develop the ordinances. Two farm owners—Ken Dryer and Katie Breckenridge—claimed the county's maps misidentified manmade ponds and ditches on their property as wetlands.
"The maps are terrible. There was no study done," Dryer said. "Things have been very hastily put together."
The haste of the effort led Jim Super, a Bellevue resident and Blaine County Commission candidate, to call for a "timeout."
He said there is too much confusion over the proposed Transfer of Development Rights program, and the ordinances are full of flaws that will catch people off guard.
"I think there are a lot of people out there who would like to have more time," he said. "Without your help and support, we will lose (our) goals."
Len Harlig, a former county commissioner, announced that a new group, called Whole Communities, had been formed to help solve some of the problems in the 2025 plan.
The group consists of the Wood River Land Trust, Developing Green, Citizens for Smart Growth, the Environmental Resource Center, the Blaine Ketchum Housing Authority, Advocates for Real Community Housing, Wood River Rideshare, and numerous consultants and concerned citizens.
Harlig said he formed the group after hearing "my friends in the environmental community talk about what was wrong with these ordinances, and it seemed to me we ought to be talking with one voice."
The group is meeting weekly and will provide written suggestions to the county Planning and Zoning Commission.
2025 hearing schedule
The 2025 hearings will continue April 19, 20, 26 and 27 at the Old Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey.
County planner Jeff Adams responds to questions during a 2025 hearing. Photo by David N. Seelig
