HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.18.2020 P&Z Minutes - Work Meeting1
City Staff and Others:
Scott Johnson – Economic Development
Stephen Zollinger – City Attorney
Natalie Powell – Compliance Officer
Tawnya Grover – P&Z Administrative Assistant
WORK MEETING 6:30 p.m.
Introduction of Planning and Zoning Commissioners, City Council Attendees and City
Staff:
P&Z Commission – Chairman Rory Kunz, Sally Smith, Todd Marx, John Bowen, Steve Oakey,
Vince Haley, Greg Blacker, Kristi Anderson
City Council – Mikel Walker, Chris Mann, Brad Wolfe, Breanna Erickson,
Staff – Scott Johnson, Attorney Spencer Rammell, Attorney Stephen Zollinger, Justin Beard, Mayor
Jerry Merrill, William Klaver, Alan Parkinson, Natalie Powell
Community Member - Aaron Richards
Alan Parkinson, Planning & Zoning Administrator – Presented a PowerPoint explaining what
State law requires for the Comprehensive Plan. He explained the Current City & Impact Area maps.
35 North 1st East
Rexburg, ID 83440
Phone: 208.359.3020
Fax: 208.359.3022
www.rexburg.org
Planning & Zoning Minutes
June 18, 2020
2
Justin Beard – (Public Works) – Justin explained that one item of consideration with planning for
future expansion of the City is the infrastructure that must be extended to serve any new
development. Water must be piped from the City’s wells to provide drinking water and sewer lines
must be constructed to bring the water back to the wastewater treatment plant. Streets must be
constructed to connect to the City. For example, when the Pinebrook subdivision was constructed
on the north side of Teton Lakes Golf Course, a new water line was constructed to convey drinking
water from Main Street all the way out to the subdivision. Because of the slow development of the
subdivision, in order to keep the water in the line fresh, the City had to install a tap and run the
water into the ditch year round. The City residents must maintain this entire infrastructure in
perpetuity. To keep the cost of maintenance of City infrastructure down, it is better for development
to happen near the City’s existing infrastructure. A question was asked whether it would be better to
allow development further away from the City center to develop with private wells and septic tanks.
Justin explained that if these areas are going to be annexed in the near future it is better for them to
connect at the time of development, because people don’t want to pay the additional cost of
connecting to City utilities when they’ve already paid for a well and septic system.
Scott Johnson – Described the economic outlook for the City and the County. At the conclusion
of the Census, the City is anticipating a count of about 34-36,000 people. Right now, with the
current trend, it is anticipated to be 30,000. 61% of the people have filled out the survey. 15,000
people are single-students. This number was obtained, because for the first time, the Census
allowed the University to submit their records for single-student housing counts on April 1st, before
COVID made major changes to student attendance in Rexburg. The Census has been prolonged
until October to finish the required surveys. It is believed there are still married students that need
to fill out the survey.
The Census plays a big role in attracting businesses; better numbers allow those businesses
to get a more accurate picture of the community. Retailers are often looking for a number closer to
50,000 people. Your RPO needs to be over 50,000 to get any federal funding. A question was
asked about potential changes with the University. Currently, the University has not met their
student cap and until they do, we cannot anticipate any new, major announcements. Scott talked
about the average income level with the students included hurts Rexburg’s chances of getting some
of those retailers and restaurants. Scott talked about long-term construction and the fact that the
INL just landed six of the nine projects they bid. This will add about 5,000 new construction jobs at
the INL and they will need housing in our area in the next few years. Businesses are looking for
talent, talent is looking for great place, and therefore, businesses are looking for a great place. It is
up to the Commissioners to create a great place.
3
The group split into smaller groups, working on quarters of the map of the City to determine
where they see residential development growing. A spokesperson was chosen for each group to
explain the group’s reasoning.
Aaron Richards – Developer in Texas – He was asked about how he liked the lack of zoning
standards in Houston, Texas. He does not like developing without zoning rules. He can put in a
project and anyone can put in anything in neighboring parcels, potentially devaluing his property.
Next work meeting: July 16, 2020.