Big changes proposed for P&Z fees

BONNERS FERRY — The Boundary County commissioners are poised to make big changes to the planning and zoning fees.

Currently, a residential placement permit in Boundary County costs $35. Thinking of holding an event in Boundary County that would require a Special Event Permit? If so, you should expect to pay $90 to the county.

As per the public notice regarding the upcoming hearing to consider the increases in planning and zoning fees, that $35 residential placement permit, should the commissioners vote to increase fees, would now cost an applicant $200 and the permit for the special event would rise to $200.

To put this into perspective, the fee for a residential placement permit would rise 471.5%, should the county commissioners agree, and the special event permit would cost a total of 122.2% more.

When asked how the increased fees would be used or why the fees needed such large increases, John Moss, Planning and Zoning Administrator, said, “they haven’t been increased in 20 years; It’s been a long, long time.”

A total of 16 items in regards to increasing planning and zoning fees are on the public notice agenda.

“I think that there is a need for a review of the fees based on how low they are,” Moss said. “The fees go towards the various applications that need to be processed.”

Per the notice, “All citizens are invited to participate in a public hearing to be held at the office of the Boundary County Commissioners.” The meeting is on June 2 at 9:30 a.m.

The courthouse is closed to the public at this time. Anyone who wishes to attend this meeting can do so my conference call by calling 1-877-402-9753 with the access code of: 9099848#