Latah County rejects bid for farming school

MOSCOW, Idaho – The Latah County Commission has denied a Texas-based church’s appeal to establish a sustainable agriculture school near the small town of Deary.

The commission voted 2-1 Monday to back a zoning commission decision denying a conditional use permit needed to open the school.

The Daily News reports the permit is being sought by the Ploughshare Institute for Sustainable Culture, which would be run by Homestead Heritage, a church based in Waco, Texas.

The church runs a similar school in Waco.

The proposal for Deary also includes a bed-and-breakfast, visitor center and campground.

The school would be operational from June through September and draw about 70 visitors per week starting in 2011.

County officials say they are concerned about the impact of increased traffic and challenges posed by any future expansion.