The Old Boy's Ranch was purchased by Investors in 1985. Then, as now, it is designated farm and forestland in the rural North of Pend Oreille County; a site well-outside Ione's urban growth boundary.

Retaining or attracting residential settlement has been challenging in North County because there is little to no employment, limited services, it's remote from the basics (example: groceries) most require, aging in place is difficult in the absence of nearby medical services, and available caregivers cannot keep pace with need in population.

This is why no need exists to create additional building lots in North Pend Oreille County. An existing inventory of available waterfront and secondary lots remain undeveloped & unsold in this remote region.

County services are fifty plus miles remote from North Pend Oreille County so the benefit vs. expense to service residential development is of questionable economic value.

Regulations illustrate a responsibility to retain working farm and forest land. The Pend Oreille County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations require us to safeguard from loss. These values are inseparable from our cultural heritage.

Scenic Beauty and Wildlife Viewing have been identified by a 2005 Pend Oreille County-commissioned study as the #1 & #2 reasons for tourist visitation. The Old Boy's Ranch provides predictable wildlife viewing and is a recognized destination for Rocky Mountain Elk and Whitetail Deer, present because of the absence of development. The elk herd be negatively impacted in the absence of the historic forage grounds and untreated fields.

Cattle ranching at the Boy's Ranch has been ongoing for seventy years and working ranches are emblematic of rural character.

The use of a 300' wide riverfront lot to serve as corridor to funnel hundreds of secondary lot owners onto the Pend Oreille River is in conflict with regulations, unwelcome in community and poses a danger to the safe carrying capacity of the waterway.

The undersigned citizens and landowners of Pend Oreille County do hereby request that the historic Natural Resource zoning for the Old Boy's Ranch be upheld. We ask the application for rezone be DENIED.