Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Steptoe zoning change
Monte Griffin of Steptoe, standing on the right, speaks to Whitman County commissioners as county Planner Alan Thomson, seated on the right, and Jeff Filkins, left, look on.
Whitman County Commissioners have approved the re-zoning of a 2.3-acre plot in Steptoe to allow plans for a Versatile tractor dealership and shop on Scholz Road.
After two public workshops and a public hearing by the county Planning Commission, the group recommended approval of the matter.
Following an additional public hearing Monday, Commissioners Art Swannack and Dean Kinzer voted to approve. Commissioner Michael Largent was absent.
The zoning change reclassifies the land from Rural Community Residential to Rural Community Commercial District 2.
The previous classification would have allowed a farming shed or barn.
The vote came after public comment.
Monte Griffin introduced himself as a resident of 182 Scholz Road, across from the land in question. An 18-year Steptoe resident and former employee of a Versatile dealership near Palouse, he stated that he had nothing against the nature of the proposed business.
His concerns, he cited, were noise, lighting, odors, dust and more.
“This is a residential area,” he said. “This is going to be right across the street from our house, right next to the church. The character of that neighborhood is families. It’s not business.
“If we can just arbitrarily change these zoning laws by having a couple meetings, then what’s the point of zoning?” he said.
Betty Dolly, also of Steptoe, spoke next.
Telling the commissioners that she and her husband were new to Steptoe after retiring, she said that the proposed agricultural equipment dealership and mechanical shop would alter their plans.
“We moved there specifically so we can have peace and quiet,” Dolly said. “We’re all for business but don’t want it within one hundred feet of our bedroom window.”
Jeff Filkins spoke next, on behalf of Ray Oneal of Lapwai, Idaho, who is the holder of a Versatile territory from Spokane to Grangeville. Oneal bought the land in question in December for $50,000. It is located on Scholz Road next to Steptoe Community Church.
Filkins first apologized that Oneal could not be there to speak to the commissioners.
“At the end of the day, we just want to be good neighbors, and we will work hard to do that,” he said.
He noted that current EPA standards keep tractors running clean and tight.
“I can’t say it enough. We will address anybody’s concerns,” he said.
Public comment was closed and Kinzer opened the matter to be discussed by the two commissioners.
Swannack asked about what is allowed in the zoning as is.
“All ag activities are allowed in an RCR zone,” said County Planner Alan Thomson. “You could also have a home-based business… while if it required working on machinery it would require a conditional use (permit).”
Swannack then indicated he thought the planning commission had covered all matters of concern in their work before recommending approval.
He then made a motion to approve. Kinzer seconded it.
“The notion that just because you’ve got land zoned that way in 1977 you can’t change it, that’s completely wrong,” Thomson told the Gazette later. “Any elected officials can zone their jurisdiction how they see fit, and it can be changed through our public process. Unfortunately, whenever you zone something you always kind of create winners and losers.”
Since Steptoe is an unincorporated area, the matter falls under the responsibility of the county commissioners.
Raymond and Connie Oneal of Lapwai seek to open the C.P. & P. Versatile equipment dealership and shop on a plot east of Highway 195 bordered by Cashup Avenue and Scholz Road.
The land, which totaled 15 lots, was sold by S.O.D. Incorporated, doing business as Klaveano Cousins joint venture.
Real estate sales records at the county treasurer’s office show the Oneals also have purchased a building at 103 East Steptoe Street in Oakesdale.
Oneal on Tuesday declined to comment on his plans for the building which was sold by Ditzy’s, Neats, and Dumb-Dumbs LLC, a quilting, fabric and sewing notions store which formerly operated in the building. Purchase price was $27,500.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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