Accusations leveled in RV park appeal

WALLACE — The Shoshone Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) presided over a public hearing on Wednesday morning regarding an appeal of a recent decision by the Shoshone County Planning and Zoning Commission.

In June 2021, the Shoshone County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for Lisa Johnston, who had been seeking the Commission’s approval to build a multi-space RV park on some property near Burke Road.

This was the second time this appeal was heard after it was discovered that the recording equipment used by the BOCC had malfunctioned during the previous public hearing in December.

As such, the appellants were required to try, to the best of their ability, to keep their testimony on Wednesday morning as close to what they had said during the previous hearing and that no new information could be brought before the BOCC at this time.

The appellants, Carolyn Collins and Bryan Stepro presented their case to Commissioners Jay Huber and John Hansen.

Collins voiced her concerns over the RV park including the specific permit.

Reported issues such as incomplete applications, altered speed limit signage, changed highway approaches, unpermitted bathroom facilities, as well as illegally subletting one of the two cabins on the property along with the use of the aforementioned unpermitted bathroom facility were just some of of what Collins spoke about during her time before the BOCC.

Stepro, during his time before the BOCC, alleged that Shoshone County Planning and Zoning Administrator Dan Martinsen had lied under oath about the specifics of ownership of the properties involved and that his lies were a part of the official record that allowed the CUP to be granted to Johnston.

Stepro also claimed that, according to Shoshone County code, “when dealing with the land use application, the planning and zoning commission must weigh the good of the applicants against the good of the community,” Stepro said.

He further stated that the administrator did not read into the recording the number of letters that came concerning the RV park, a number that Stepro claimed was six in favor of, one that was neutral, and 47 that were against permitting the park.

He also mentioned that at one of the meetings prior to the commission issuing the CUP, five people who attended the meeting for the park, 18 who attended were against it, and one attended in neutrality.

“As you can see, the community was opposing the permit,” Stepro stated.

Burke resident Matt Beehner also spoke during the hearing, stating his belief that it appeared as though proper procedure wasn’t followed by the commission, and that the commission themselves didn’t act in any sort of malice — but instead are not properly trained on how to make proper planning and zoning decisions.

In regard to the comments made, Martinsen didn’t go into detail, but did say that anything on the application could be looked at by the public if they so choose.

“Comments (and/or) statements made in the hearing(s) will be reviewed and a response will be determined,” he said. “The application file is complete and available for public review. All testimony was submitted to P&Z Commission members and or the BOCC.”

The statements made during the hearing will now make its way to Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Keisha Oxendine, who will review them and give counsel as to the direction that should be followed.