Payette County P&Z OKs zone switch for plant
By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Sunday, April 12, 2009 2:11 AM PDT
PAYETTE-Idaho Power successfully completed a preliminary step in the eventual construction of a natural gas-fired generation plant at Langley Gulch after receiving a positive recommendation from the Payette County Planning & Zoning Commission to amend the county’s comprehensive plan Thursday night.
Idaho Power is seeking to amend the county’s comprehensive plan from residential and commercial zoning to industrial zoning. The Payette County Commission is slated to vote on the matter at its May 18 meeting. The next step in the planning and zoning process would be to make the zoning change.
Thursday, the proposal drew mostly favorable comments from members of the public who spoke at the hearing prior to the decision, and Idaho Power representatives tried to provide answers to commissioners and those residents who had concerns about the plant, which will be situated south of Interstate 84 at exit 9 in Payette County.
Idaho Power representatives began with a presentation on the project and why it warranted a comprehensive plan amendment.
“We have a lot of reasons to be excited about this site,” Idaho Power representative Angie Wood said. Among those reasons enumerated were the fact it is close to the interstate; it is topographically isolated; it would not negatively impact neighbors; it is in the proximity of existing power lines; and it is not in the floodplain or an airport approach zone. The plan, officials said, would also be quiet, efficient and clean-burning.
Neighbors to the proposed site James Hartzell and Dave Raczykowski, both of New Plymouth, were not convinced of the benefits, however.
Hartzell said he was primarily concerned with the noise and feared it would disrupt the quiet nature of the area and wanted to know what the noise level would be.
“You know, I want Payette County to grow, but this is in my back yard, so I do have a lot of concerns about it,” Hartzell said.
He was also concerned if the water pipe intended to bring water from the Snake River to the site would affect his groundwater, a sentiment echoed by Raczykowski.
Raczykowski said he uses two wells on his property that have “pristine” water, and he was worried his groundwater would be polluted by the plant. Still, he pointed out, the plant sounded like it would have a lot less of an impact than a previously proposed housing development, and he preferred the former over the latter.
Other audience members, however, did not share those worries.
Bob Henggeler said it appears Idaho Power is trying to work with Payette County residents, and the venture would benefit the county as well.
“I think we’ve got to give these people a chance and try to work with them,” he said, adding the difference between this project and the proposed Boardman to Hemingway power line proposal is “the difference between night and day.”
The P&Z commissioners did not have serious concerns either. Steve Goertz said his primary concern was, if the comprehensive plan was amended to industrial and the Idaho Power project did not go through, the area would be opened up to other projects that could present significant problems. He said, however, he was convinced this project was pretty unique and inclusive just to this project.
Farrell Rawlings, who made the motion to recommend the amendment, said he thought the power plant would fit in nicely in Payette County.
“I personally think that’s an ideal location,” he said.
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