Tell Eagle City Council members and the mayor to say no to annexation of Avimor | Opinion

Avimor

Land developers are praying that the city of Eagle approves the annexation of Avimor, an isolated and delightful “town” located 8 miles northeast of Eagle, Idaho. Because they know that its current mayor and council will greenlight every request that they make, these developers will make a short-term financial windfall but at the expense of rapid, runaway growth that far exceeds what we’re already experiencing in Eagle and in the Treasure Valley. Under the auspices of Ada, Gem and Boise counties, Avimor’s growth has been responsibly held in check, but if merged with the city of Eagle, our current “rubber-stamping” mayor and council (whose 2019 campaigns were supported by Avimor developers), will invariably allow congested traffic along Highway 55, increased property taxes, burden Eagle’s drinking-water supply and create a sprawling suburbia not unlike Meridian, Idaho.

A recent poll (conducted by SOS Eagle) revealed that 91% of Eagle residents oppose the annexation of Avimor. Additionally, the mayor’s own (appointed) Planning and Zoning Commission heard these outcries and recommended that Avimor not be annexed into the city of Eagle.

Please tell Eagle’s mayor and council to not annex Avimor, as doing so enriches only a few developers and no one else.

Brett Smith, Eagle

Executions

Subject: State execution. Problem – obtaining execution materials. Possible solution – eliminate the death penalty!

Harold Brizee, colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.), Boise

Wolves

When I first realized you could see wolves in the wild, I put it at the top of my bucket list. Now, along with millions of people from all walks of life, I travel purposefully to the States that have wolves to see them ALIVE, not dead.

European immigrants had eradicated wolves from North America by the mid-1900s, and now we can right that wrong. Because a wrong it is. It is not up to a handful of ranchers to decide what wild animals live and die, taking away that opportunity from so many other folks, and future generations. The majority of people want to see wolves reintroduced and doing well, managing their own populations. I feel for the cows that the wolves attack, but they will end up at the slaughterhouse; why does it matter who pays for this animal? The government paying wolf reparations or the shopper?

Idahoans, do not ignore the incredible tourist dollars wolves bring, and do not deny millions of people and future generations the pleasure of seeing them. It is not our right to deny others their lives just because we can.

Julia E. Orr, Napa, California

Boise zoning

You’ve likely seen the city’s marketing efforts for their massive zoning code rewrite. Don’t let the city fool you. Even if you attended a city zoning code rewrite session, you won’t know the whole story. After all, how could you, when the city creates over 600 pages of proposed law and an amended comprehensive plan, all while refusing to show the many differences, nor transparently explain how they could impact you.

Actually, the city is:

• Making virtually all zones more permissive. That R-2 property next to you could now be split into multiple lots with four story fourplexes. Or could become a prison release halfway house.

• Upzoning numerous areas in many neighborhoods (say from R-1C to R-2). So even though you now have a “typical residential” lot, it could become a neighborhood café serving alcohol, multiple tiny lots, a boarding house, add a food truck, etc.

• Limiting public input and making it easy for them to approve conditional uses. Even when they simply believe it provides public benefit.

Clearly your quality of life (which underlies the comprehensive plan) doesn’t really matter.

Be heard! Send your comments to zoninginfo@cityofboise.org and zoningrewrite@cityofboise.org (include ZOA23-00001, CPA23-00001)

Gary Zimmerman, Boise

Annexation

Eagle’s mayor and council members will hold a public hearing March 13 on annexation of Avimor. If they vote to approve Avimor’s applications, their legacy will be that of significantly changing the “small town feel” that so many residents moved or stayed here to enjoy. Written comments posted with the agenda run to 560 pages; the vast majority are strongly, vehemently, absolutely or adamantly opposed to this annexation.

Our mayor cites the benefit of Eagle having control over Avimor’s 17,522 acres, yet Avimor wrote the draft Eagle ordinance to govern itself if annexed: the city could not change the ordinance without Avimor’s approval, Avimor would control and maintain its parks and trails with its own standards, and Avimor could change plans throughout its 37-year buildout without city oversight. What control is left for the city of Eagle?

After a public hearing over two nights, the P&Z Commission voted 3-1 to recommend denial of the annexation and rezone at this time, citing disagreements on trails and pathways and the fiscal impact to be resolved with Avimor prior to the council hearing. How have those issues been resolved? What will be the legacy of Mayor Pierce and his council?

Ann Joslin, Eagle

Vouchers

Is there a more obvious process of channeling public funds to private interests than school vouchers? The public would be outraged if the Idaho State government cut check after check directly to say, the Catholic Diocese of Boise to pay its employees. Is this not exactly what vouchers do?

Another look at school vouchers shows quite clearly that the state government is giving up on its responsibility to provide quality education. Politicians would rather assist their constituents in attending private schools because they have no idea how to improve public schools. Public education is the responsibility of the government and through vouchers they are shirking their responsibility.

Lastly, school vouchers are just another tool used by elected officials to trash education. Educators are leaving the profession, and are difficult to replace, due to the disrespect of stakeholders: pupils, parents, and politicians. School vouchers are simply governmental stamps of approval to point a finger of blame rather than attempt actual improvements. Too much time has been wasted on school voucher discussion. The same time and effort could and should be spent on making public education more desirable for everyone involved.

Wesley Hall, Jerome