Air park fails to land with P&Z commissioners in Island Park

ISLAND PARK — Plans for a arguable aerial parkland connected nan Henrys Lake Flats are facing expanding turbulence.

The Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously rejected a connection from developers to alteration nan county’s broad scheme representation and zoning from agrarian to business successful Island Park. The determination was made during a readying and zoning gathering connected Saturday.

An estimated 500 group showed up for nan four-and-a-half gathering astatine nan EMS building connected Library Road, pinch 80 much viewing online.

“I judge that this is simply a spot zone. I judge that it is retired of characteristic pinch nan surrounding area. It is retired of characteristic pinch nan broad plan,” said Cathy Koon, St. Anthony typical connected nan Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission. “It is being done for nan use of a peculiar landowner alternatively than for nan organization arsenic a whole.”

Imperial Investments, a Montana-based LLC, had submitted nan connection to alteration nan zoning connected its 432-acre parcel connected nan flats from agrarian to business for nan airport. They besides applied to amend nan Fremont County’s broad scheme representation from agrarian to business for nan property, located conscionable eastbound of U.S. Highway 20 adjacent Henrys Lake.

The aerial parkland would dwell of a 5,200-foot runway extending crossed nan property, pinch backstage homes and backstage hangars connected either side.

The projected tract of a 432-acre aerial parkland connected nan Henrys Lake Flats. | David Pace, East Idaho News.com

According to a “Fremont County Sketch Plan,” nan spot was bought by Imperial Investments successful 2021 and is presently being transferred to Island Air Park Limited Liability Corporation, owned by Kevin and Doug Button and based successful Idaho.

A tract drafting indicates nan aerial parkland would see 8 hangars, a nine location and 30 backstage tons ranging from 1.77 acres to 62.28 acres.

The land’s existent owners, Douglas and Kevin Button, said successful favour of nan plan, on pinch their lawyer and engineer.

“It’ll beryllium strictly utilized arsenic a residential airpark pinch very ray aerial traffic,” Kevin Button said. “… The only thought that there’ll beryllium zero improvement connected this spot is if you guys bargain it.”

About forty individuals said against nan projected changes.

Teri Ehresman, representing Involved Property Owners of Island Park, provided a 168-page petition pinch 7,181 signatures opposing nan changes. The petitioners besides called for a reappraisal of nan broad scheme and improvement code.

She quoted argumentation 13 of nan broad plan, which states, “It shall beryllium nan argumentation of Fremont County to forestall nan creation of nuisances and require that caller improvement blend compatibly pinch its surroundings. Industrial onshore uses that would consequence successful adverse biology impacts should not beryllium permitted successful nan county. Commercial developments should mostly beryllium confined to designated commercialized areas.”

Angie Illum, wide head of nan Timbers astatine Island Park Resort situated adjacent to nan flats, said nan projected task would negatively effect adjacent spot owners.

“It would beryllium difficult to explicate to 3,200 timeshare owners why planes would beryllium flying supra nan edifice astatine 132 feet supra crushed level,” she said.

Island Park Fire District Commissioner Joe Sella besides recommended nan committee ballot against nan proposal, stating that Island Park’s unpaid firefighting unit was not capable for an aerial park, which would request a full-time occurrence position presence.

Additionally, 5 biology non-profits – nan Nature Conservancy, Henrys Fork Wildlife Alliance, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Henrys Fork Foundation and National Parks Conservation Association – warned that changing nan broad scheme and rezoning nan onshore would “destroy wildlife habitat, artifact animal migration routes, frighten endangered type and degrade h2o quality,” according to a news merchandise from nan Henrys Fork Wildlife Alliance.

“Economic maturation tin beryllium achieved without permanently losing nan captious wildlife habitat, moving land, scenic views and taste practice of Henrys Lake Flats,” Nature Conservancy typical Matthew Ward said.

If nan scheme to conception an aerial parkland does not person approval, nan developers intend to build caller lodging connected nan flats.

“The replacement is to maximize nan improvement connected nan area pinch 20 tons per 100 acres. (It) turns into 84 lots,” Kevin Button said. “… For a batch of you, I recognize that’s nan amended of nan 2 evils we’re deciding connected today, but it’s reality.”

Ultimately, nan Fremont County commissioners will clasp different gathering to make nan last determination connected nan projected broad scheme and zoning changes. The developers tin besides entreaty nan commissioner’s determination if nan connection is rejected.

It is besides anticipated that nan Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission will clasp a nationalist proceeding successful September connected an exertion for nan Flat Rock Hotel – a three-story, 132-room Marriott-affiliated property. That task is not related to nan aerial parkland connection and would beryllium constructed connected nan Henrys Lake Flats to nan westbound of US-20.

Island Park residents cram into nan Fremont County EMS building for a nationalist proceeding connected nan Henrys Lake Flats connected Saturday. | Courtesy Brian Wartchow