The Courier
News
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
June 14, 2017
Volume 41 ~ Number 24
Camas P&Z to Continue Working on Airport Language
Last Tuesday, the Camas County Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously decided to continue working on the draft of the Public Airport Facilities addition to the county’s comprehensive plan. The primary reason they did not move forward with the existing draft was because it lacked clear definition and/or delineation between public and private airports. While the proposed Section XVII is titled “Public Airport Facilities,” it mentions private airports several times without stating how they would be treated differently. The public in attendance at this meeting was overwhelming opposed to any language (or lack of language) that would allow the continued construction of a private airport near Willow Creek (i.e. Soldier Field Airport owned by IxNay Investment Trust). Several individuals went so far as to claim there is county wide opposition to this particular airport. This raises the question, “Can counties prohibit private airports?” According to Idaho State Statues, cities and counties are required to address public airport facilities in their comprehensive plans. More importantly, however, they are required to address aviation hazards that might impact airports within their jurisdiction. This includes identifying and prohibiting development that might render an airport unusable. Cities and counties can establish zoning that affects where airports might be located, but this is to mitigate hazards, not to prohibit them from existing. P&Z Commissioner, Jeff Kreyssig, supports the idea of putting restrictive language in the comprehensive plan. There are two problem with doing this. First, the comp plan can not be used to legislate. The Idaho Supreme Court has
repeatedly stated that comprehensive plans are not legally binding law. Additionally, while cities and county can not ignore their comp plans, state statues do not require strict conformity to this document. The other problem with restrictive language in the comp plan is how it might affect other private airports in Camas County. There are a dozen or so airports in the area, including the public airports at Fairfield and West Magic. Of the other airports (a broad legal term referring to any location where an aircraft might land), only three are recognized by the FFA. Going through the FFA approval process establishes clear airspace for an airport, but does not guarantee the absences of aviation hazards. Presumably, a distinction could be made between airports that exceed a certain size, but would that be based on actual size or permitted size? In the case of Soldier Field Airport the permitted size (according to FAA) is 8500 feet, but the actual size is only about 5000 feet (a couple thousand feet longer than Fairfield’s airport). Of course, this sort of regulation can not be done in the comprehensive plan. It must be done in the Zoning Ordinance. Several individuals who testified at the hearing stated that they had no problem with someone building a dirt (gravel) landing strip for their own private use, without restrictions. At the current time, that is all that is going on at Soldier Field Airport. So again, should zoning restrictions only apply to actual construction, or to future possibilities as well? The P&Z Commission ended the meeting by voting to explore the possibility of forming a citizens advisory committee to help form the language of this section.
Hydroelectric Plant
Last Friday, USDA Rural Development joined North Gooding Main Hydro, LLC to celebrate the open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for a newly constructed Renewable Energy System, located on Milner Gooding Canal. “To foster rural economic development and growth, Congress reauthorized and expanded the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) as part of the 2014 Farm Bill. REAP provides financial assistance, through grants or loan guarantees, to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements,” said USDA Rural Development Rural Energy Coordinator Dale Lish. “Renewable energy systems provide a significant opportunity for rural economic development and growth. These opportunities include increasing local revenue, bolstering the local job market, and increasing the economic yield of our important rural land resources.” USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; homeownership; community services, and high-speed intemet access in rural areas.