07/02/2026
The transformation of agricultural land into commercial and residential development across Fremont County, Idaho was a recent discussion on the page.
Trellis Development announced recently that they would be developing property just east of St. Anthony Motors along 2300 E on the county grid. On the Fremont County map server, Fremont Stockyards LLC is listed as the owner of the property. The address provided for the owner also happens to be the same address used for Trellis Development, The property is being advertised is listed as 4-1 acre lots and the asking price is $400,000 each. Trellis plans to add 5 or 6 buildings to the developed land. These buildings are said to resemble a “western theme” and with beautiful views. Trellis wants to attract tenants to an area the developer describes as an easy on/easy off crossroads to communities 30 minutes in any direction.
That old South Yellowstone corridor into St. Anthony does make sense for areas of growth. Commercial and industrial business is already located along the highway there and by keeping this type of growth located there it could provide significant infrastructure upgrades and work toward local economic development goals. However, its success depends on balancing highway-oriented businesses with the preservation of the town's rural character areas of growth. AND we are talking about development along the main old Yellowstone highway corridor.
But that is not the issue here.
It is the land east and south of the Trellis development we must be most concerned about. It is the land along the western side of 2300 E from 400 N to 300 N to Hwy 20 that has been zoned as commercial and industrial. Much of this land is owned by families with homes on the properties and some used to be viable agriculture farm ground that could one day be converted to businesses and more homes. Once the farm ground is gone, it will be gone for good. Who will feed us then? Also, do these affected homeowners know that their property is zoned commercial?
There are many determining factors that have influenced growth in our county. Our growth rate is less than 1%. That equates to less than 140 people. So it is not rapid growth. However, the construction rate at which apartment buildings and townhomes have appeared is alarming. We are also seeing low density sprawl causing large-acreage housing developments to pop up directly within or adjacent to active agricultural fields. And guess what? High housing costs in nearby urban centers push buyers into rural Fremont County, where farmland provides an initially cheaper path for developers to build large subdivisions.
Were you aware that a very large area farmer decided not to continue farming this year? The Parker family was considered one of the larger farming families in the Parker-Egin area. Their land holdings alone are incredible. Farmers face steep financial pressures and it would have cost the Parker family at least 5 million dollars for startup costs this year alone. Overall, production costs are skyrocketing at a nearly 40% increase. A 70% increase in machinery, fuel and maintenance expenses while higher interest rates compound the issue farmers are having to deal with. So what do they do with their property?
Let’s take Trellis for example. The property they are developing is assessed at $220,000. What they will do with the property will increase its valuation and they stand the potential to make 1.2 million if all lots are sold. Unfettered development pressures significantly drive up rural land values, tempting multi-generational farm families to sell their land to outside developers for substantial financial windfalls rather than continuing low-margin operations. As residential subdivisions move into farming communities, new residents frequently voice nuisance complaints regarding farm noise, dust, and odors, making continued agricultural operations logistically difficult. Even though there is language in the Fremont County Comprehensive Plan to protect farmers and their operations there are and will be complaints about what a farmer is doing on his property.
Other factors that exert pressure in Fremont County on the land owners and particularly farmers is the the "Gateway" Effect. Fremont County’s proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, the St. Anthony Sand Dunes and the Henry's Fork River fuels massive demand for seasonal vacation homes, commercial recreation, and short-term rentals. These structures need to be located somewhere.
Historically permissive zoning have caused longstanding disputes over county policies—such as past ordinances that allowed 2.5 acre lot splits. These zoning practices fragment the landscape and make it easier for large farmlands to be incrementally sliced apart. Smaller parts of the pie mean more people can have some. Localized zoning designations (such as the Rural Living zones around Ashton and Maryville) explicitly transition parcels down to 1.5 acres to encourage residential and light commercial clustering. While the Fremont County Comprehensive Plan aims to direct development away from agricultural fields, watchdog groups and studies note that Idaho has historically maintained a low policy response to actively halt farmland threats when compared to other states.
The question was presented. It was a request for the factors that are causing agricultural land to be transformed into commercial and residential development throughout Fremont County.
Some were mentioned in the article above. Do you have anything to add? And what do we do about it as citizens of Fremont County?
