Kootenai County began seeking public input Monday on a draft revision of its existing land-use and development codes. County Community Development Department director David Callahan and his staff members spent the past year producing the draft, which consolidates and simplifies existing regulations. "(Callahan's) whole goal was to make something that was usable, and I think he did a great job," said County Commissioner Marc Eberlein. "It's a lot cleaner," said Commission Chairman David Stewart. "It's substantially more user-friendly." Stewart said all the county's existing ordinances relating to land use and development turned the county into "one big homeowners association." Kootenai County should instead be focused on customer service, he said/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Do you trust Stewart and Eberlain to strike the proper balance between regulation and property rights when it comes to land use?