Earlier in this discussion (scroll up) you said, “Now, when somebody moves into a 1/2 acre lot in the City, the people on 5 acres across the street in the County don’t like the way it changes their life.”

My dear Mr. Mayor, if you were only allowing HALF-ACRE lots, and if they were ACROSS THE STREET from me, instead of ON MY PROPERTY LINE, I would not be ON this crusade to remove you and your numbskull associates from public office.

WHEN are you guys going to GET IT??? Putting high-density subdivisions IMMEDIATELY adjacent to acreages with livestock invites disaster at worst and confrontation at best.

This is just another example of the inability of Star’s elected officials – you in particular – to understand or manage complex issues. You have insulted and/or attempted to marginalize anyone with whom you disagree.

Your dismissal of the leaders of Star Citizens for Smart Growth recently as “middle-aged women” – as if that was a BAD thing – reveals a whole new set of prejudices of which we must now be wary.

I must caution you that the most EFFECTIVE bigots are smart enough to keep their biases under wraps.

Some people wish things could go back to the good-ol’-days (20-30 years ago) but when we think about it, were they really that good? Think about the services and conveniences we now have and tell me things were that much better back then.

Some posts have criticized the long time landowners for selling their acreage for inflated costs. Get real… It’s called “Supply and Demand”? Don’t try to tell me that if you sold your house tomorrow that you wouldn’t try to get top dollar.

Growth is inevitable and there is nothing we can do to stop it. All we can do is plan responsibly and look towards the future.

Mr. Mayor, although we haven’t met, I’ll admit I’ve have some reservations concerning your background as a developer. I am however impressed with your willingness to answer your critics. Please keep in mind that the decisions you and the counsel make today, affect the residents of Star forever !!! Rebecca’s post hit it on the head for me. Please don’t turn Star into the next Meridian!

I am distressed by the Mayors comments, “While I do believe there is an appropriate use for these larger lots, and definately a market for them, I don’t think only having one type of development will work. Again, I can’t stress the importance of having a variety of lot sizes/housing types.”

Star cannot become the next Meridian – Eagle maybe, but not Meridian! Convince me that Star is not going to become that and you have my support.

If any of Star’s elected carpetbaggers ever need their parachutes packed, ejection seats adjusted, small arms ammunition “reloaded,” trap door levers pulled, horses’ heinies slapped (ala the old grade B westerns when the ne’er do wells were finally strung up), or buckets kicked out from under them, I’ll help you out and volunteer to do the deeds.

No Cal–So Cal? Same Same G.I. Remember Nate’s current path to infamy is how California’s gift to us, and now the Nation, Hollywood Dirk started out- – - Cali, UofI, house building industry and then it was His “Honor” the Mayor, ad nauseum. . . Interesting history here and it can repeat itself. At least Bog wan Nate (or should that be Attila the Mitchell) is honest about his goals. He is right about building houses too, none of them will stop as long as there is another bcuk to be made filling this nest with excrement just like his pride and joy is.

This “Smart Growth” “they” keep chirping about really doesn’t exist- – -Never has, never will. “They” will do whatever, whenever, and to who ever they can to make as much money as possible. Caring about “quality of life,” “improving the community and environment,” are all platitudes and euphimisms they spew while raping and pillaging our home state.

(Hey Tam, it has been another bad year for ground squirrels. The omnivorous little cannibals are thick as newbies. They still look and act a lot like developers and “some” lawyers. Even though on our end of the county the “wonderful” growth has limited us to shotguns and rimfires, teaching them to fly is therapeutic and very gratifying. You should take it up again.)

The congestion, schools, infrastructure problems will lead to a premature end to my livelihood…The uncrontrolled approach to much of this is what causes me the most concern. I din’t mean to infer that you weren’t involved either. I obviously don’t know you, and try not to speak about things I know nothing of. My challenge/question about fixing the problems was more of a general challenge to all. I really don’t have a lot of patience for people who bitch about things and don’t want to help solve that which bothers them.

I do want to make it very clear that I did not move to Idaho to recreate what I ran like hell from. Being a sixth generation logger, things got a little tough trying to maintain our “rural” lives. I’d be the first Nor Cal transplant to adopt a land use moratorium if I could make it retroactive about 30 years and make us all go home. Don’t ever start liking it and keep putting your 2 cents worth in every time. That is the beautiful thing about America and the freedoms we all enjoy.
Nate

Here’s what I think. Those who have the most to lose in rapid growth areas are folks like me, who chose a rural lifestyle A LONG TIME AGO, when it was really rural. Those who have the most to gain from rapid growth are developers, home-builders (Nate), Landscapers (City Council member), Sprinker installation contractors (City Council member), farmers with desirable land to sell for inflated prices (includes a good number of those Nate mentions in his piece if my recollection serves me correctly).

For me, the pheasants no longer call in the twilight because of “Pheasant Run” subdivision; the baler no longer runs at night across the road because the neighboring development homeowners complained, now the land is in weeds and for sale; Hay derricks and Harvestore silos that once dotted the horizon are now replaced by cell towers and 3000 square foot boxes with no trees. If we live in rural communities we should have the privilege of maintaining as much rural about that as we can.

I understand private property rights. I also understand being responsible neighbors, community members and legacy leavers. As for what I do to effect change. I would think one would go a ways to find anyone as involved in their community as I. There is rarely a cause, blue ribbon committee, fund raiser, City Council meeting, Parks Board meeting, School Bond, that I am not on some committee or in attendance to testify respectfully. Maybe it’s time to buy an old house in Genessee and call it good. I will apologize for my insinuation about UI grads and Northern Cal tranplants. I do know plenty of transplants who merely want to recreate here, what they left there.

I personally wish they would not. I suppose that Star, Melba, Notus, Parma, Middleton, Emmett and the like will forge full speed ahead with developments and there is naught I can do about it. That doesn’t mean I have to like it or acquiesce to it without letting my 2 cents worth be known.

I, for one, am getting quite tired of all this ” California transplant, newcomer, out of stater ” name calling. If we want to get mad at someone, why don’t we start with the “old-timers” that have SOLD the land to these new-comers and developers for four, five, six, ten times what they paid for it?

I recently had a conversation with a “newbie” who said, ” you people hate us until we pay you ten times what you have invested in your property. Then we become your best friend”. He was so right.

The mayor is right on in his position. Growth is going to happen whether we like it or not! We had better get a handle on MANAGING that growth because that is the ONLY option we have.

The sooner we all get together and start pulling together on this issue, the better off we will ALL be.