Subdividing rural land in North Idaho

For those of you who have any experience successfully re-zoning land so you could subdivide, I would like to hear how you did it. I currently have a 16 acre parcel zoned as rural residential 10 that I would like to break into 3 parcels, essentially re-zoning as rural residential 5, but our county has recently buckled down on parcel divisions so I want to hear what others have done to get the county to grant a re-zoning request or an exception for a specific lot/ lots. Thanks!