Enterprise The Idaho
Oneida County's News Since 1879 Malad City, Idaho
March 24, 2022 |Vol. 142 No. 12
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Planning and Zoning Commission meets; provisionally recommends special use permit for Hess Lumber
Last Thursday, the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission met for a public hearing, as well as scheduled meeting, during which language for a new ordinance regarding “twin homes” was discussed. Hess Lumber Special Use Permit The longest portion of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting involved the request by Hess lumber for a special use permit concerning a recently purchased property on 162 N. 100 W., to be used as a parking lot for employees, as well as a potential staging/ storage area for materials related to seasonal items. In the three plus years since Hess Lumber has been operating their pallet business, the level of discomfort expressed by those residents whose homes are impacted by the operation—which involves the large scale storage of material as well as the frequent large truck traffic—has only increased. The hearing itself focused on the special use permit, rather than the larger issues involved, but many residents took the opportunity to raise some of those larger issues surrounding the ongoing situation. To open the hearing, Jared Crowther explained that Hess Lumber has seen a major uptick in the volume of business it has been contracted for. In Crowther’s view, the COVID pandemic has caused other regional lumber businesses
The PZ Commission discusses a potential new “twin homes” ordinance
to focus on large scale projects, leaving the smaller work orders to be contracted by smaller, more local outfits like Hess. As a result, both the pallet business and the general contractor services of the company have required a more significant amount of space to handle the volume. Owing to this, the delivery and storage demands have created a much busier atmosphere near the store’s location. The recently purchased property is intended to be used as an employee parking location, which will free up current commercial space for additional storage. Long term, Hess Lumber is seeking to relocate parts and potentially the entirety of their operation south of town, which will significantly reduce the amount of truck traffic in the downtown area. The outlook for such a move is on the scale of years, with the hope that it may be completed as early as 2023.
The hearing then turned to residents of the area, who expressed their frustration with the current business traffic on the street, as well as some problems with the storage facilities. Annette Elcock raised the issue of semis and large vehicles creating a potentially dangerous situation for children who often use the route to access the swimming pool during the summer. She reported witnessing a number of near-accidents involving children and vehicles on the road. Kim Jenkins, who lives near the Hess property, expressed a similar concern about the safety of the area. He also expressed his frustration with what he sees as the encroachment of Hess Lumber into the residential section of the neighborhood. He acknowledged that the growth of Hess Lumber was potentially unforeseeable and a problem that needed to be addressed, but he also stated that
The property on 100 W. which Hess Lumber plans to use for employee parking
“their business issues are not our problem to solve.” Jenkins expressed his belief that Hess had been expanding beyond what their original statements about the business expansion had indicated. “This is destroying our neighborhood,” he said. Jenkins also raised the issue of the potential fire hazard posed by the accumulation of wood products near residential dwellings.
Other residents spoke about the potential reduction in property values created by the pallet operation, although the subject was deemed to be outside the scope of the public hearing. Throughout the hearing, comments and questions were directed back to the immediate issue at hand, which was the special use permit allowing Hess Lumber to use the property on 100 W. as
an employee parking lot. Debbie Jenkins suggested that for her part she “did not want a parking lot there, because it’s one more step taking us away from a quiet residential neighborhood.” Jared Simpson responded that in his view, “They’re doing everything they can PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETS On Page 8
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Brian Jeppsen Announces candidacy for County Commission District 3 After many years of preaching from the “Community Responsibility” soapbox and at the encouragement of several local friends and neighbors, I have decided to throw my hat into the ring for the District 3 Commissioner’s race. I was born in Texas while my parents were stationed at the Laredo Air Force base. We later returned to Brigham City, UT where I was raised until I was 15 yrs. old. At that time, my parents, Brent and Jacque Jeppsen, moved their family to Malad where I graduated from Malad High School in 1975. Moving to Malad was a life-changing event for me and I have loved the people and the community spirit ever since that time. It was here that I met my
sweetheart Anita Ann Head, who waited for me while I served an LDS mission to San Antonio, Texas from 1976-1978. Upon my return we were married in June of 1979 and now have 3 amazing children; Jacob (Emily) Jeppsen, Melissa (Ty) McMillan, and Breanna (William) Charles. We are also the proud grandparents of 11 wonderful grandchildren. I am also very proud of my siblings; Tammy (Dave) Williams, Kaylene (Chad Rindlisbacher), both of Malad, Ron Jeppsen (deceased), and Chris (Jen) Jeppsen of Boise. Although Anita and I moved away in pursuit of a career in 1980, it didn’t take us long to return home to this beautiful valley. In 1983 we
came back home as this is the place we wanted to raise our children. I have been involved in many community projects and organizations as well as having served in various church assignments over the past 39 years of living here in Malad. In 1987, 6 months before my 30th birthday, and in spite of being happily married with 3 children, I felt that it was my duty and privilege to serve in the military as a token of appreciation for the profound liberties that we enjoy in this blessed Land of Liberty. I subsequently joined the US Air Force Reserve and served for 8 years out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, achieving the rank of Staff Sargent. Upon joining, I took my Mil-
itary Oath of Office to “… support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”. I consider that oath to be a lifelong commitment and duty to uphold. I have a very special love for this valley and its people. Now, as before, when I felt it my duty to serve in the military, the time has come for me to give back to this land and to this community that I love. My objective in seeking to serve in this capacity is to recognize and honor those who have served before, to stand upon their shoulders and to build unity and strength in our community as we forge ahead through these most interesting and challenging
Brian Jeppsen recently announced his candidacy for County Commission
times. I share one of my favorite quotes, which has become a constant thread throughout my life’s experiences. “Truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it. But in the end, there it is!” –Winston Churchill Sincerely, Brian K Jeppsen