Like two annexation applications before it, Wood River Valley landowner John Scherer's 281-acre annexation proposal seems destined for a series of heated public meetings ahead of a vote on it by Bellevue officials.
A large and vocal crowd of Bellevue and Blaine County residents expressed grave concerns Thursday, March 15, with Scherer's proposal to the City Council.
Like the previous annexation applications submitted by Ketchum developer Jeff Pfaeffle and Blaine County landowner Harry Rinker, the public's comments were specific to issues like additional traffic, added density and the development's impact on the local quality of life.
The City Council is in the midst of considering Pfaeffle's 100-acre Slaughterhouse Canyon annexation and is about to begin discussing Rinker's 280-acre annexation proposal. Scherer and Rinker's combined properties are located just south of Bellevue and east of the Gannett-Picabo Road.
The first member of the public to speak out during the meeting was Jay Bailet, a homeowner living across the Gannett-Picabo Road from Scherer's property.
For Bailet, the amount traffic forecasted for the existing two-lane road as a result of the development is especially troubling. Like many others who spoke during the meeting, Bailet wasn't comforted by proposals to increase the portion of the Gannett-Picabo Road within a few miles of Bellevue into a three, and possibly even a five-lane roadway.
"This is a huge impact on us," he said.
The potential for heavy traffic was also a concern for Jim Funk, another Gannett-Picabo Road resident.
Developments such as Scherer's don't just impact the city, Funk said.
"They impact the whole valley," he said. "This will become a major log jam."
Voicing something that would be repeated throughout the night, Funk said the city should bear the burden of the development's impacts.
"It's your subdivision, it's your traffic," he said.
Obviously upset by Scherer's annexation proposal, former Bellevue City Council and P&Z Commission member Eric Allen said city residents should be allowed to vote on the proposal.
"Do you want this annexation? Yea or nay?"
Allen also said the city should be conducting a citywide transportation study to determine what traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures need to be completed before any annexation is considered.
"I think you better start getting your ducks in a row."
Responding to Allen's request, Bellevue consultant John Gaeddert said the city is in the midst of such a study.
"The Transpo Group is under contract with the city," Gaeddert said.
Scherer's proposal to zone a portion of his property as light industrial area also drew complaints.
Responding to those concerns, Scherer explained that affordable light industrial property is nearly nonexistent in the Wood River Valley.
Up in Ketchum, light-industrial property sells for about $40 per square foot, while in Hailey it's around $28, Scherer said. On his property, light industrial property would sell for as little as $15-$18 per square foot, he said.
The P&Z ultimately voted to table Scherer's application until their next meeting on April 5.
