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Springfield subdivision to go before County Commission |
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By Emily Hone
The Morning News
BLACKFOOT — A subdivision on the south shore of Springfield Lake, first recommended for approval by the Bingham County Planning & Zoning Commission in 1999 but never recorded, got a new lease on life Wednesday.
Following a public hearing before the board for new owner Futures of Idaho, the board recommended that the Bingham County Commissioners approve the preliminary plat for the 14-lot subdivision.
Designer David Romrell of Harper-Leavitt Engineering said the homes will be a will be a minimum of 1,500 square feet and cost in the quarter million dollar range.
Several people testified against the application, citing a high subwater level and fears of contaminated groundwater, the fact the shores around the lake are a bird refuge and waterfowl nesting ground, and congestion of roads from increased traffic.
Making the presentation for developer Blane Robbins, Romrell said the Lakeside Estates Subdivision will have individual wells and septic tanks and a pressurized irrigation system that will be maintained by a homeowner's association.
He said lot size in the Residential/Agriculture Zone will be 1.5 to 2.5 acres on the nearly 20-acre property.
Robbins said the site is nothing but sagebrush and weeds now, so the development will be an improvement.
He said while the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has no jurisdiction over private property, it has made recommendations that the developer will try to follow. They include planting 150 trees for bird habitat and having covenants that include residents preventing their dogs from running loose to destroy waterfowl nests and young.
Several people testified against the application, most saying subwater on the land around the lake would interfere with culinary wells and septic systems.
Kenneth Talbot said 15 wells on the acreage is too many. "I live on the Springfield Townsite and we have trouble keeping water in four homes."
Talbot said he also worried about contamination of culinary water. "The sub is pretty high on that side of the lake," he said. "It sometimes gets to within 12 inches of the surface."
Stephen Henicksman said the subwater is going to be a headache for people trying to build homes on the property, and a subdivision at the location will require the county to spend money on improving the roads. He said also, removing native vegetation from the sandy/clay soil will result in a dust bowl.
Testifying neutrally, Bob Anderson, who lives in Chubbuck and owns land to the east of the property, said there is hunting within 50 feet of it as well as fishing on the lake, feedlots, horses and trailer houses with hay bales around them - something that is never allowed in Bannock County.
He testified before Romrell stated the cost of the houses, and said he needed more information before deciding whether he's in favor or opposed.
Gloria Whiteside of Springfield said a lot of geese and swans nest in the area, and maybe building should not take place within 200 feet of the lake.
In rebuttal testimony Romrell said no houses will be built within 150 feet of the lake.
Following discussion the board, with John Fairchild absent and Cindy Kofford recusing herself, the other six members of the board voted unanimously to recommend approval.
The plat is scheduled to go before the Bingham County Commissioners on Jan. 30.
In other business, Ted Huff's application for a special use permit for a dog kennel on his property in a Residential/Agriculture Zone at 813 W. 40 S. was denied by the board.
Huff failed to appear in support of his application, but board members said it seemed he wants the permit so he can continue to have five dogs on his property, not so he can build a kennel.
The board noted that Huff has a "handful" of complaints and citations for allowing his dogs to run loose. "I don't think granting him a permit for a kennel will change that," said one.
The application was denied on the grounds it doesn't meet the criteria for an SUP.
Following another public hearing, the board voted to recommend approval of the preliminary plat for a 2-lot subdivision in an Agriculture Zone at 380 E. 300 N. for Boyd Williams.
Subdivision plat designer Neil Morgan said each of the 5-acre lots has two shares of water in the Blackfoot Irrigation Co., and the land is marginal for agriculture.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 13 January 2007 )
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