The following article appeared in the Challis Messenger Online for July 15, 2004.
 

 

Stanley leaders ask to plug into CIEDRA loop

By Anna Means

If the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) finds its way through Congress and the White House, Stanley wants to know how it can plug in to reap the rewards.

This was the question posed to the Custer County Commissioners at their regular meeting on June 12.

Part of the CIEDRA proposal calls for transferring public lands into county ownership. From there, the county can sell it and put the money into a trust fund.

Stanley Mayor Paul Frantellizzi and Council President Dick Neustaedter told the commissioners that the council had just passed a resolution about CIEDRA. The document identifies certain acreage for low income  housing, low density development and some recreation. It also stipulates money from development of new land would be put into an endowment for the city.

Frantellizzi asked how Stanley could tie into the county's process to ensure the city got what it wanted.

Commissioner Wayne Butts said the issue was what pieces of property would be easiest to acquire and at the same time benefit the city.

Commissioner Cliff Hansen asked what type of development the city wanted.

Frantellizzi said nothing was cast in stone, but his pressing question to the county was how land transfers and subsequent sales would be administered. "Will the county be running the show or will it sell to a developer?" From that point, he said, Stanley wants money to defray the cost of providing services to the new land, which presumably would be incorporated into the city.

Hansen asked what responsibilities the city was willing to assume.

Neustaedter said it depended on the density of the development. Large tracts with only a few houses wouldn't be worth the trouble.

What land?
Discussion deviated from how to what. Butts said newspapers kept saying 400 acres were at stake in the Stanley area, but the commissioners weren't considering such a big number. He said they were more interested in value than size and it was his understanding that only 158 acres were up for discussion, all of it near Stanley city limits.

The Stanley council's resolution does identify 400 acres on the sewer pond upper bench that might be used for low density housing.

Both Butts and Hansen said they didn't think 400 acres would fly politically. Hansen said he couldn't see how the city could benefit from that much ground.

Frantellizzi said he'd had informal discussions with several groups and individuals and thought there was a lot of support for it. Butts replied that the commissioners weren't hearing that.

More than taxes
Frantellizzi said while there is potential for more money from a bigger tax base (by annexing newly developed lands), the city wants an economic development fund. He said some of the acres on the bench could be developed into a small rope tow ski area.

He asked if Stanley could expect money from the county after land was sold for development.

Hansen answered that it was probable, but the county would have to know what kind of development Stanley was planning to allow.

Neustaedter said all new housing will have planning and zoning as well as deed restrictions.

The resolution itself states the Benner site will have four home sites, the "sewer ponds" area is for affordable housing, community and recreational development, and the upper bench for low density development. All housing will have maximum height restrictions, building envelopes, view corridors defined, minimum and maximum square footage requirements, easement rights for recreationists, must adhere to Stanley and SNRA building codes and go through appropriate design reviews.