County lifts ban on butte-top building

With little of the controversy that surrounded previous debate over the issue, Whitman County commissioners Monday removed home building restrictions atop Whitman County’s 15 named buttes.

Commissioners Pat O’Neill and Greg Partch voted 2-0 to remove the restrictions from the county’s rural residential zoning code. Commissioner Michael Largent left Monday’s meeting early to drive combine for harvest.

“I support removing the elevation restrictions on the buttes,” Largent said before leaving. He added he viewed the rules a violation of the property rights of private owners of butte land.

Building on top of buttes had been declared off-limits by revisions to the county’s rural residential ordinance passed in 2007.

Legality of the ordinance came into question after Walter Lunsford applied to build a home on his ground on Parker Butte southeast of Palouse.

Prosecutor Denis Tracy testified at the July 19 public hearing the law was primarily based on aesthetics, which he deemed to be unconstitutional.

Several area residents thought Tracy’s opinion was wrong. Many expressed that opinion at the July 19 hearing and through written correspondence to commissioners since then.

Several critics questioned if the removal of the building restriction was being made to ease wind turbine placement.

Tracy stressed the building ban only applied to housing, and would have no effect on turbine permitting.

Commissioners had little discussion Monday before voting to remove the restrictions.

Commissioner Largent Monday morning did say sensitive buttes have other restrictions or self-limiting factors that would prevent housing development.