by Brandi Stromberg March 2nd http://argusobserver.com/articles/2010/03/02/news/doc4b8d55915ae4a825076790.txt
PAYETTE — People for Payette’s Future Inc., and Snake River Alliance held a public meeting Monday afternoon at the Payette County Courthouse to voice their concerns on a proposed nuclear-generated power plant.
Alternate Energy Holdings Inc., has proposed to construct a nuclear-generated power plant in Payette County on Little Willow Road and Stone Quarry Road and has been in the process of gaining approval since October.
“We are asking the county to amend the comprehensive plan map to show the property being considered as potentially eligible for a rezone from agriculture to industrial,” JoAnn Butler, attorney for AEHI, said. “Our aim is to ask for that rezone to allow the location of an independent nuclear power production facility, that is an industrial use, that will manufacture and sell power to utilities and end users.”
Butler, Snake River Alliance and People for Payette’s Future were the presenters at the meeting Monday.
“Our organization is opposed to the amendment of the comprehensive plan as proposed by the current applicant because it would violate specific provisions by the Idaho Local Land Use Planning Act,” Jim Underwood, PPF, said. “Idaho law requires the county to conduct an inclusive comprehensive planning process designed to prepare, implement and review and update a comprehensive plan.”
. . . PPF made some recommendations to the county during its closing statements. . .
The first recommendation is that the county take the time to do it right. Members said a development of this scale and complexity with such far reaching and lasting impacts on the county deserves to be done right. . .
The second recommendation was that the county bring the Payette County Comprehensive Plan into compliance with Idaho law. PPF said it recommends commissioners remand to the Planning and Zoning Commission or to a special task force.
The third recommendation was that the county investigate the creation of a power plant industrial park on government land. . .
The last recommendation was to invite power plant development proposals from energy industry leaders. . .
The public hearing will be held open until 5 p.m. March 9. The hearing will be closed at 7 p.m. March 22 at the Payette County Courthouse where the commissioners will hold the final hearing, and make their decision.
