Specifically, the board’s action Tuesday lifts restrictions the board put in place last June on leasing, selling or trading the 8.5 square miles. The action also directs the lands department to begin accepting applications for leases and land exchange ideas, and begin vetting applications immediately.
The Land Board is constitutionally required to maximize long-term profit on the land. For the Land Board, it’s possible it could be failing to meet its constitutional requirement in McCall by continuing to rely on traditional uses for such high-value land.
The land is in a vacation area and prized for recreation. It is also being eyed by developers as the area is also in high demand for second homes. One company has proposed a huge land swap that would lead to developing much of that land with new homes.