[Vision2020] Latah County Land Use Ordinance

[wocsom at earthlink.net]

Outstanding Mr. Arnold.  We are a nation of laws for the good of all
people.  Also, thanks to Mr. Harkins for bringing this important document
to our attention.

Coop


> [Original Message]
> From: Donovan Arnold <donovanarnold at hotmail.com>
> To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>; <jeffh at moscow.com>
> Cc: 
 > Date: 1/23/2005 4:32:46 AM
> Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Latah County Land Use Ordinance
>
> "Virtually every provision ( in the Land use Ordinance) attacks or limits 
> your rights as a property owner in Latah County." -- Jeff Harkins
> 
> Yes, I see what you mean. Can you believe they have restrictions on what 
> people can do with their own land??? I mean no toxic waste dumping! No 
> poisoning of streams and creeks and the drinking water of cattle. No 
> building 65 foot windmills that with bright lights that will cause an 
> airplane to crash into Moscow Mountain. And no torturing or mistreatment
of 
> dogs, horses, cattle, sheep, and definitely no kicking and spitting back
at 
> the llamas.
> 
> It is almost as if the County Commission is purposely setting out to
enforce 
> laws for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and general
welfare 
> of the people of Latah County and following Title 67, Chapter 65, of the 
> Idaho State Code. Those Bastards! How dare they make things safe and fair 
> for everyone. Thanks for bringing this 82 page document to our attention 
> Jeff. Reading it has really opened my eyes as to the functioning and
purpose 
> of the BOCC.
> 
> Donovan J Arnold
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The purpose of this ordinance is to promote the health, safety, and
general 
> welfare of the people
> of Latah County by establishing regulations and standards in accordance
with 
> the Latah County
> Comprehensive Plan. This ordinance is authorized by the provisions of
Title 
> 67, Chapter 65,
> Idaho Code, the “Local Land Use Planning Act?
> 
> 
> 
> >From: Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com>
> >To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> >Subject: [Vision2020] Latah County Land Use Ordinance
> >Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 21:39:41 -0800
> >
> >URGENT POSTING
> >
> >After digesting the 82 pages of the proposed Latah County Land Use 
> >Ordinance, I call your attention to this document and urge you to read
the 
> >proposed revisions carefully.  In all my 22 years in Latah County, I
have 
> >not seen a more intrusive collection of policies proposed for property 
> >owners.  Virtually every provision attacks or limits your rights as a 
> >property owner in Latah County.  The link is:
> >
> >http://www.latah.id.us/Dept/PB_ZoningOrdinanceDraft.pdf
> >
> >Here are some highlights:
> >
> >The ordinance is divided into 9 articles as follows:
> >
> >Article 1 - Administration
> >Article 2 - Definitions
> >Article 3 - Land Use Zones
> >Article 4 - General Land Use Regulations
> >Article 5 - Overlay Zones
> >Article 6 - Zoning Map Amendments
> >Article 7 - Conditional Use Permits and Variances
> >Article 8 - Divisions of Property
> >Article 9 - Design Standards
> >
> >One or more of those articles should get your attention.
> >
> >Keep this in mind - there are some 117 individual provisions to this 
> >omnibus ordinance - many of them restrict your rights as a property
owner 
> >and will require a fee-based conditional use permit (CUP) in order to 
> >comply with the ordinance.
> >
> >No doubt some of the proposed rules are reasonable, but all need to be 
> >given the greatest scrutiny before they are considered by the County 
> >Commissioners.
> >
> >You might want to know that the Planning and Zoning Commissioners have 
> >stated that they have worked on this document for seven (7) years.  They 
> >advertised the draft document for the public hearing (held last week) 
> >during the first week of January.  The draft document discussed at the 
> >hearing was dated January 11.  This provided you and I about one week to 
> >digest the details of this ordinance.
> >
> >Here is something that struck me as a problem.  Apart from the blanket 
> >statement that the purpose of the ordinance is to "promote the health, 
> >safety and general welfare of the people of  Latah County ...", the 
> >document provides no detailed purpose statements or context statements 
> >which attempt to define why the specific regulation is needed, what is
the 
> >problem or issue being addressed, etc.  Furthermore, none of the 
> >regulations provide for a measurement or assessment standard that would 
> >allow citizens to determine whether the regulation or policy is
effective.
> >
> >After you read the document, perhaps you will appreciate why I am
proposing 
> >an ordinance of my own - no public policy or regulation or rule
affecting 
> >land use should be adopted unless the proposed policy, rule or
regulation 
> >provides a clear and unambiguous statement of purpose - detailing
precisely 
> >what the problem or issue is that the County officials are trying to 
> >address.  Further, as applicable, the proposed policy, rule or
regulation 
> >should have a means of assessing or determining whether the rule is 
> >effective at dealing with the problem.  Over time this may help to 
> >highlight those rules or policies which should be eliminated.
> >
> >After review, contact me directly or post your comments back to
Vision2020. 
> >  I know it may be difficult for all to find the time, given all the
other 
> >major public policies being debated just now (water issue, highways,
public 
> >schools) but this document  - when combined with the impact of the other 
> >major issues being decided - has real and significant consequences for
all 
> >of us.
> >
> >I look forward to your comments (oh, horse owners, dog owners, home 
> >occupation folks, farmers that use apprentice housing, rural property 
> >owners and individuals planning to use wind powered generators should be 
> >sure to review the document).
> >
> >_____________________________________________________
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> >communities of the Palouse since 1994.                
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> >                              mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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> 
> _____________________________________________________
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