Stoney Burke is a ranch broker based in Ketchum. He is a co-owner of Quigley Canyon Ranch, a 1,500-acre property east of Hailey. The ranch, which the city of Hailey has said it will consider annexing into its boundaries, is under contract to be sold to the CG-Elkhorn development group.
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To: Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commission,
I am writing you because I will not be here during the initial hearing process on the proposed zoning ordinances that came out of the "Blaine County 2025: Where and How will we Grow?" discussions.
I moved here permanently in 1970 and have lived and worked here continually since then. I have always loved this county and the people who live here. Since my arrival much has changed and much has remained the same; however, I fear that is all about to change. Through various means this valley has been spared many of the land-use problems that are now prevalent throughout the West. During my 33-year career as a ranch broker covering Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, I have witnessed valley after valley of once beautiful Western landscapes and traditional communities fall victim to uncontrolled development. For the most part, this "gold rush" mentality has not added value or enhanced the quality of life in the communities that have been overwhelmed by unrelenting growth. Today this is happening all over the West at an alarming rate.
Blaine County is different because of the farsightedness of its community leaders over the last 35 years. When the first restrictive zoning laws and comprehensive plans went into effect, the rest of Idaho thought we were crazy for limiting "a man's right to do what he wanted with his land." Today, because of that, we have been able to grow and create extraordinary value and still maintain the quality of life that has brought us here and kept us here.
I firmly believe that the residents of any community have the right to determine their own destiny. I also believe we don't owe everybody who wants to move here a place to live at the expense of our own lives.
I support the three county commissioners in their efforts to revisit and change some of the county's zoning and subdivision ordinances. I don't agree with all of the changes but feel they are generally going in the right direction. In the alternative, if we don't implement some change and instead live with the status quo, I am convinced we will lose much of what we love here.
The present ownership of many large tracts of land by developers currently planning subdivisions is unprecedented. Most of those people are not locals and those who are have financial promises to keep to investment groups.
For a countywide change in land use to be successful, the community has to work as a single unit. The county and all five cities have to work together as one.
The stakes have never been higher. All residents of the county need to get engaged in this process. The Clarion study had some valuable data and good public input. Growth should be moved from remote parts of the county, from sensitive wildlife areas, from agricultural land, from open space, and from wetlands. It should be transferred to infill and annexations into existing towns and cities; however, those landowners who have development rights removed should be fairly compensated.
Developers, speculators, along with their lawyers and hired consultants, are going to try to "derail" this process. You owe it to your constituents to "stand your ground." The community should make this decision. I can tell you from experience there is nowhere to run. We are living in the "last best place."
