Picabo is poised to get a little bigger, after the Blaine County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a subdivision that will create 22 new commercial and residential lots in the small desert town along U.S. Highway 20 near Silver Creek.
Known as the Picabo Hills subdivision, the development was spearheaded by property owner Nick Purdy and the Picabo Livestock Co. The 76-acre property owned by Purdy will be subdivided into four blocks with nine commercial lots at least .62 acres in size; eight rural residential lots of at least 2.5 acres; and five residential and rural lots 5 acres or larger.
The lots will be accessed from First Street, Robert Street and Fire Station Road. The 76-acre parcel currently contains two residences, two potato cellars, a fire station and two commercial structures.
Purdy, a rancher, farmer and developer, is a descendant of the Kilpatricks—five Scottish brothers who worked on Western railroad construction in the 19th century before settling around what is now Picabo. Located near sparkling Silver Creek, Picabo is a derivation of the Native American word meaning "shining waters."
The town, which is surrounded by expansive agricultural fields, currently has a population of about 50 people. Purdy would like to see that figure increase to about 200. But he also wants to preserve and expand the sensitive wetlands that surround Silver Creek, which is world renowned for fly-fishing and bird-watching opportunities.
In 2003, the county approved Purdy's proposal to rezone 16 acres of residential land near Picabo's center to agriculture, and 51 acres of agricultural land at the town's eastern end to residential. The rezone was designed to move future residential development out of the town's center, where much of Purdy's ranching activity occurs.
"This is a very unique situation," said Blaine County Planner Linda Kelsey, one of a handful of planners who has worked on the proposal over the past several years. "It addresses very immediate challenges and values to the area and does not necessarily have a projected impact to long-range development around the surrounding area."
County Commissioner-elect Larry Schoen, who will represent District 1, or the south county, when he is sworn into office on Monday, Jan. 8, reviewed the proposal when he was a member of the county's Planning and Zoning Commission.
He said most of the public's initial concerns with the subdivision were alleviated at the P&Z level.
"My sense was the people were most concerned about what happened with Robert Street and the alleyways that went along with the rezone," Schoen said. "Most of the people I spoke with seemed comfortable with what (Purdy) is doing and felt it was in keeping with the character of the area."
Furthermore, Schoen said the subdivision is "not an unwise development."
"It's right on the highway and adjacent to town," he said.
Kelsey said the types of commercial operations that will be established in the new lots have yet to be determined.
Purdy could
