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County considers Airport Influence ordinance, approves Special Use and conditions Steel National agreement
Summary
Planning staff presented a proposed Airport Influence/Nuisance ordinance and timeline for hearings; the board approved the LaDawn Brown Special Use Permit and directed that turn lanes and lighting be required before Steel National receives a Certificate of Occupancy.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Idaho — County planners on April 27 presented a draft Airport Influence (nuisance) ordinance and exhibits intended to protect the Weiser Airport, while the Board of County Commissioners approved a Planning & Zoning–recommended Special Use Permit and set traffic-safety conditions for a development agreement.
Planning & Zoning Administrator Bridget Felmley outlined two draft exhibits: Exhibit A (the Airport Influence Area ordinance language to be added to county code) and Exhibit B (a Notice of Airport Vicinity intended to accompany property transactions). Felmley said the county should attach a legal description to the map and run the ordinance through legal review on a schedule that could make a May hearing possible if items are finalized quickly.
"The next step would be a hearing, and I guess I would need approval from you and or legal to know that this is, in fact, the ordinance and how you want it phrased, and also to attach the map or legal description," Felmley said. (Bridget Felmley)
Jim Metzger, Airport Manager, said consulting engineers (JUB Engineering) can create a legal description from runway centerlines and runway-end measurements so the ordinance can include an accurate boundary.
Separately, the board accepted Planning & Zoning’s recommendation and unanimously approved the LaDawn Brown Special Use Permit after commissioners discussed access and parking concerns raised during prior hearings.
Commissioners also discussed whether the City of Weiser may hold hearings for applicants within the county’s area of impact. Prosecuting Attorney True Pearce advised that state statute does not allow cities to hold their own hearings for county-area applicants and recommended amending county code to match state law; commissioners asked staff to prepare code changes and to consider reinstating a previously revocated Special Use based on the city’s recent hearings and minutes.
On the Steel National development agreement, Felmley said the Transportation Department recommended withholding occupancy until turn lanes are operational. The board directed that turn lanes and associated lighting be included in the development agreement and required before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy, with permitting and construction estimated at four to six months.
Why it matters: the Airport Influence ordinance and the code alignment with state statute will shape how the county and the City of Weiser coordinate land-use hearings and how new development near the airport is disclosed to buyers and regulated. The turn-lane condition ties development approval directly to traffic-safety infrastructure.
Votes at a glance: the LaDawn Brown Special Use Permit was approved unanimously; multiple catering permits and demand warrants were approved earlier in the meeting; the board authorized warrants for general and juror expenses and recessed until May 4.
