THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE COURT, BUT IS SOLELY FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONVENIENCE OF THE PRESS.
Robert F. and Ruth Blaha challenged each of the decisions of the Board of Ada County Commissioners with respect to the Buckwheat Acres Subdivision located in the Eagle Area of City Impact. The Blahas petitioned the district court for review of the Board's preliminary plat approval, the grant of variances regarding the road grade and road width of the private road that was to service the subdivision, and the final plat approval of March 28, 1998. The district court affirmed the Board's action, which it determined was made in accordance with standards governing consideration and approval of proposed subdivisions in the area of city impact.
In a unanimous opinion issued today on the Blahas' appeal from the district court's decision, the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the Board's final approval of the subdivision. The Court concluded that it was unnecessary for the Board to grant the variances from road grade and width standards that had previously been waived by the Ada County Highway District. The Court held that the approval of the Buckwheat Acres Subdivision followed the process set forth in the mutually adopted ordinances and the agreement between the City and the County, which applied to the area of impact. The Court construed the implementing ordinances to preserve the County's exclusive jurisdiction, holding that any efforts by the City to restrict development beyond the city limits would be unconstitutional as an extraterritorial exercise of jurisdiction by the City.