http://m.seattlepi.com/news/article/Jud ... 178232.php

The nerve, to think you could take ag ground and put an airstrip in.....of course that's illegal. I'm sure no one here has a strip on ag ground, right? I still like the concept of a "8500' dirt strip", it would be unique, "the longest dirt (not turf or grass, but DIRT) runway in the US. It's kind of fun, feeling sorry for a rich famous guy, but if he was Joe Sixpack he probably could have squeaked it in.

I'm guessing that they kept the property zoned "ag" for tax purposes. They (the county council/commissioners) can still press forward if they rezone the property (properties). With the resources that could be brought to bear I'm sure it's not a dead issue. I find the "property rights" complaint by the plaintiff in the article rather ironic.

Most of the county is zoned AG-80. Idaho code states that any use not specifically addressed in the zoning regs is a special use. The county commissioners added "airport" as a permitted use on AG-80 and this is what the suit is about. The Willis airstrip is far from dead and the commissioners are regrouping to address the lawsuit. Here is the original article referenced in the SeattlePI:

http://www.mtexpress.com/news/transport ... 6f730.html

Thanks for the update. Bruce and I are watching this all play out with some interest. Well, I am anyway. The next time I am out to the Flying Joe airport (calling a paved, fenced, and towered 7500' runway a "strip" doesn't seem right) I'll ask it's owner if he also is following the Willis saga, and how his ordeal compares with what he had to go through to get his operation signed off by the local P & Z. He had the advantage of NOT being famous.

We are a very rural county (approximately 1 person per square mile) and everyone including the commissoners, most of whom are farmers, value property rights, so I am pretty sure Bruce will get his strip. It's a NIMBY thing - the small group of neighbors that are bitching would scream bloody murder if you started telling them what they can't do with their land. Part of it has been brought on by Willis's secrecy on what the ultimate plan is. No one believes he really wants an 8500' dirt strip. There has been no activity out there this year although nothing has been stopping him until this most recent legal decision.

Bruce should have built a crop duster strip on his Ag property and then built a hangar on it. Lesson learned I guess.

Good point aftCG. I expect no industry gets more complaints than crop dusting but more governmental support (or disinterest.)

Fewer than ever actually farm or ranch, yet people continue eating and production continues to increase.

Farm country is not the most exciting part of our nation for extreme sports but is the most aviation friendly. I have landed in hundreds of farm fields, without prior permission, without any repercussions.

None of the private airports, strips, or open fields I have visited had any involvement with or permission from any government.

contactflying wrote:Good point aftCG. I expect no industry gets more complaints than crop dusting but more governmental support (or disinterest.)

Fewer than ever actually farm or ranch, yet people continue eating and production continues to increase.

Farm country is not the most exciting part of our nation for extreme sports but is the most aviation friendly. I have landed in hundreds of farm fields, without prior permission, without any repercussions.

None of the private airports, strips, or open fields I have visited had any involvement with or permission from any government.

Now don't you go landing in any of OUR fields!



...We would love to visit with you, its just that all this rain after the drought has created some rather large ruts and trenches on our ground.

Like the 4 ft. deep, 2 ft. wide kind. Not exactly airplane friendly.