By Michael Howell
At a September 29 meeting, County Commissioners took an initial step in forming a Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) that would include the Ravalli County Airport property along with some other land in the area owned by Mildenberger Properties LLC, the Mildenberger Family Limited Partnership, and the Bitter Root Stock Farm LLC. The Commissioners approved the boundaries of the proposed voluntary zoning district. The next step, according to County Planning Department Director Terry Nelson, will be to develop a plan for development within the zoned area.
Julie Foster, Director of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority, said that although it is being referred to as a light industrial district, it could actually end up being comprised of some heavy industry, and even some commercial and residential development. She said under the law it is simply referred to as an Industrial District.
The County Commissioners have been conducting ongoing but sporadic communications with the Hamilton City Council about the possibility of extending the city sewer and water lines to the area. The City has expressed a willingness if the area was annexed into the City as part of the deal, but the County has been hesitant to agree to any municipal annexation of the property. The County would prefer to work out some arrangement for financial compensation for the use of the city’s wastewater treatment system. Those talks are still ongoing.
In the public comment section of the commissioners’ meeting, it was noted by Bitterroot Star publisher Michael Howell that many people were asking him how the county actually identified the airport area as the best location for development of a TEDD since there appears to be a problem with high ground water in the area around the airport.
Foster said that the process began about eight years ago when the City of Hamilton looked at establishing a TIFF District in Area 3 on property owned by the Bessenyey Family Trust. That effort was not successful but the idea of including the airport in an economic development district did not disappear, she said.
Some people expressed the opinion that there had not been enough public notice about the process and Ren Cleveland questioned the boundaries of the district that were being proposed.
Although the law refers to the properties within a district being “contiguous,” one parcel to the east of the airport is only connected to the other parcels by a 60 foot wide and half mile long swath of land that runs along a ranch roadway and ditch that connects the two parcels.
After some discussion the Commissioners unanimously approved the boundaries of the Voluntary Zoning District.