County Planning Board to discuss growth policy

The Lincoln County Planning Board will meet with Land Solutions, LLC, on Tuesday to discuss goals for the county’s growth policy and Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that Land Solutions has been contracted to assist in developing.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and will be the final discussion with the planning board before the draft goals and actions are presented at three open houses and feedback from the public is taken.

Matthew Rohrbach, a community planner with Land Solutions, said by email that the intent of the meeting on Tuesday is to discuss the goals and actions in response to key issues that Land Solutions has identified.

In February, representatives from Land Solutions met with the Lincoln County Commissioners and with the planning board, asking questions regarding what the county needs and how people who live in Lincoln County would like to see it develop.

Both plans are intended to provide long range guidance for things such as planning subdivisions and economic development goals.

Some of the areas identified in those meetings included national policy on federally-held lands, development of timber and mining resources, housing, broadband Internet service and public safety.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Rohrbach said that three community open houses are planned for May, each taking place in Troy, Libby or Eureka.

In addition to discussing key issues, they will also discuss those in relation to existing conditions that affect them.

The Troy open house is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, at the Kootenai Senior Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Libby open house is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, at the Venture Inn, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

There will be a final open house in Eureka on Thursday, May 16, at Lincoln County High School, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

More details about the process will be discussed in a future story prior to the open houses.