Congratulations to Mayor Beiter on his reelection, winning about 60% of the vote.

60% of the Vote.

Which constitutes what percentage of Registered Voters?

Which, in-turn, constitutes what percentage of Eligible Voters?

The bigger, sadder story is the apathy and resignation among the citizenry and the dismal failure of the Fourth Estate to nail down incumbent candidates early on issues such as the as-of-yet unmaterialized Forensic Audit of the CCDC, exponentially growing menace of methamphetamine, etc.

Victory?

For whom?

Wonk your nose is getting longer every time you hit this site. You turn tricks for Skyline, CCDC, and all the rest of those who wish to ruin our little valley and then you have the gall to say what you say! No one is standing in line to live in the Eagle Hills or the plateau–you and your ilk are doing your best to attract them. Keep up your b.s. and the G Man should banish you.

Wow, I must really frighten you, Mr. Colic. Without fail, every time I post you call on G to ban me. I do not fear you and I hope G keeps letting you post here as your obsession with me makes you seem really, really weird.

Do you really want this board to be an anti-growth echo chamber, populated only by people like you? That would exclude anyone who is involved in their neighborhood association, schools, local charities, business community, etc. In other words, only aliented whiners who contribute nothing to this community would be welcome.

Have a nice day.

There are still several developers building in Eagle and a bunch of want-to-be millionaires who practice buying and building houses with sub-par loans and they don’t intend to live there – just make a buck (or loose someone else’s) and leave.

I think that what makes places livable is greenspace/open space. I hope that what we’re seeing in the Eagle election is a realization that the foothills are more fragile than some other areas, and that the green / open space offered by the hills is an important part of what makes the Valley a viable/livable place.

Said it before, will keep on saying it. Growth is inevitable, planned, systematic growth is the most desirable. Keep the money grubers toward the back of the line and let human and environmental needs take their places at the front.

Wonk–the “backlash” of the voters against Queen Nancy and her Royal Court has more to do with how they have approved subcivision after subdivision and ruined a nice little community. Have you driven Eagle Road laterly??

Everyone HATES it and Council approves ANOTHER subdivision just south of Island Woods where our beloved Queen lives (she pushed for and got a traffic lite there…) Granted, access to and from these major arteries is under ACHD and ITD jurisdiction BUT thecity (IMO) could do a much better job to improve traffic. The latest brainstorm of P&Z is to put residential condos on top of businesses…now that’s a novel concept—yep, I want to wake up to the smell of fried chicken in the morning.

The citizens of Eagle had a feeling that their voices were not being heard and chose to Oust the bastards—-they should also clean house at the PZ level in the city and disallow those who have worked in city government from becoming “consultants” in “the process” for a minimum of 5 years.

In case no one else has noticed, the quietness we are experiencing is the lack of hammers hammering. Subdivisions in Eagle that have been approved, some of them already platted, birmed with paved streets and sidewalks, are not being built on. One subdivision south of Floating Feather not far from Highway 55, has several homes that are framed but no construction is continuing. I was advised that the contractor had gone bankrupt and the properties are in foreclosure.

If this housing slump continues for long the developers might want to reconsider before they get too much money invested that could be a very long time being repaid.

Earlier this fall a couple of young men decided to do the old “flip” game and bought an older home on the golf course, modernized it, I guess, and now are just waiting for a buyer, along with five or six other properties on the same section of the golf course, one of which has been for sale for at least two years.

One has to wonder about the hundreds of homes proposed for Avimor – where will those buyers come from?

By the way, why does a Statesman reporter in today’s paper, state that Avimor is near Star? What?

I think what most growthophobes want is realistic pricing on development without the underwriting provided by the existing tax base. The reason people want to live here is it is CHEAP.

Us local yokles think it’s expensive because we have never experienced real living wages. As long as our Republican Legislature continues to prevent local option taxing and impact fees for developers and mayors and city councils keep up the blame game we are going to continue to get more of the same.

Yes, ground is disturbed and dirt pushed around for proposed construction that may not happen.

This is an excellent time to take a deep breath and look closely at development, city planning and zoning regulations and comprehensive plans. A close reading of what is already in place may reveal that more could be done to direct development, alleviate congestion, improve safety and quality of life without changing ordinances, rules or regulations.

My own belief is that local governments should not roll over every time someone wants a zone change. Any landowner has the right to make improvements, cultivate, manage and enjoy the land as it is now zoned. No one needs a zone change just because he or she wants it.

Realistically. the citizens of Eagle and ALL of Ada County should be lining up at the Ada County P/Z and Development Services.

The Guardian should do a little expose’ on who and what is driving the process (no doubt you will come upwith some high rolling developers who certainly have the almighty dollar as first priority).

Eagle wants to annex property in the foothills so they can “guide” developement somewhat (I’m not sure how effective that might be. As a prime example look at the entrance to Avimor—-a turnout lane when in Dec 06 ITD recommendation was an overpass.) Sad that ITD caved in—-could the Guardian do an investigation into THAT fiasco? ITD states this is “temporary” but the mammonth pillars they have constructed at the entrance certainly precludes an overpass there doesn’t it?

Until water,school,and road issues are addressed they should stop development in the foothills.
The vote in Eagle was antigrowth but I think it was misplaced—-the real villain here is Ada County. Rick Yzzaguire and the Boys should be held to the fire and get control of the problem.

California taxes developers per sq ft of deveopment (called Mellaroos Tax) and this is passed (of course) onto the buyer—it’s a way of paying for infrastructure—-Idaho needs to pass this law.

There is no easy answer to any of the growth problems. It is too expensive for Gen Y and younger people to keep our housing level the way it is.

But on the flip side if a city isn’t growing it’s dying. Which is the lesser evil? There isn’t much any city/county government can do now with growth/economy except watch it crumble while they are in office. The damage was done in 2003-04 when no regulations on growth were in place. All we can do is prepare now for the next real estate rush 10-15 years from now.

City planners should have a comprehensive plan for zoning and adhere to it. The changes I would make here is to have developers/builders make homes based upon percentages of income for the area in which they want to build.

ie: (all numbers were made up) South Boise has 40% of the population that make say $40k per year or less, 30% that make $40-75k and 30% that make more than $75k. The homes built in the new development should be in that proportion too. That way everyone can have a chance to own a home and the builders can still make a variety of homes and still make some of the money that they deserve for their work.

2008 will be a very telling year for the residential house market. It won’t matter who is in office. Don’t be surprised when there are only a handful of mortgage companies and realtors left in the area. Not to mention banks that will quit lending on real estate in the area. It will hurt. We cannot have a large wave in the economy without having the trough associated with it. 2008-09 will be the bottom.

EDITOR NOTE–Afraid that social engineering plan just won’t fly. Truth is, people who don’t make a lot of money don’t deserve big homes. They don’t deserve nice cars. The money lenders have “qualified” just about everyone and encoumbered their homes, cars, etc. Houses have doubled in size and luxury. If low income housing was capped at at $75,000 the houses would be smalled. If it is capped at $180,000 the houses are bigger. “Affordable” in in the eye of the government guarantee.