HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN RESPONSE - Comprehensive Plan 2003City of Rexburg Comprehensive Plan Update Vision 2020
Resident for 15 years
1. A population of 30,000 is my guess for 2020.
2. I feel that it should be a joint effort with Madison County to set a
comprehensive plan for the whole county. Yes, a plan is needed. No,
it is not the job of Rexburg alone.
3. I plan to vote for the building of a new facility for the high school and
the conversion of the existing high school into a junior high.
4. Another elementary school will probably be needed south of Lincoln
and Kennedy. Perhaps the school district needs to look at
consolidating the southern schools (Archer and Burton) into a newer
facility if building continues south of Middle School. It should be on a
5 or so year plan after the high school bond expires.
5. Parking in the whole downtown area needs improvement. Look at
Twin Falls and Pocatello for models of improving downtown. For
example with the construction across from the theaters and more
apartments parking is limited. Removing the old Mexican restaurant
should have been part of the building permit. The old theater should
be given a deadline for occupancy. We have too many old buildings
from the flood standing empty. Grants should be sought to acquire
empty buildings and replace them with parking and other
beautification projects. With our climate a mall type facility is needed.
Why not get small businesses to move to the old Staples and Furniture
Warehouse building? A walking path around the outside with
storefronts in the center would improve commerce. Even Burley has a
mall!
6. Yes, a public transportation system is needed. Starting with school age
children a bus pass could be used to get students home from after
school activities for a fee. Work with BYU-Idaho to set up routes that
would move the parking congestion from the North part of campus.
Idaho Falls has a struggling CART system. Like the rail system in
Utah we could make it easier for people to commute. I would like to
pay for a bus to take me to Idaho Falls and back. I would even be
willing to pay to be transported to campus.
7. Keep the commercial development near highways! Why have
commercial development next to a park? Do you want to have our
town a stop on a serial child molester's trip? Both Smith and Porter
Park should have residential areas on three of the four sides.
Neighborhood Watch is needed near parks! A hospital and doctor's
offices are different from other commercial buildings.
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8. Increase parking and make it more conducive to walking. Benches
and garbage cans invite people to linger.
9. Madison County is the government entity that should protect
agriculture. Cooperation is the city's contribution. Send a copy of the
results of your survey to the county and the newspaper.
10. Again it should not be the city's job to control growth outside our city
limits. The county and city could offer incentives or penalties for
developments that burden the water and sewer systems. Cooperation
with the county should make clusters of homes fit within a
comprehensive plan for the county and the cities. One house per 40
acres is rural. A cluster of houses with wells and septic tanks should
be discouraged outside service areas. If the developers want a cluster
have them develop their own service options. Wells go dry. Water
rights need to be regulated in rural areas. Culinary and agricultural
water need balance. Salt Lake City is concerned about its water
supply.
11. The Green Belt by the Teton River is not used because of parking and
its location. A friend likes to walk at the Nature Park but I do not
consider it safe for me. Having the biking and walking path from the
Middle School up to campus will be used more because it is near
areas that will be developed. It has a safer feel — traffic to make sure I
don't fall and lay there into the night. I tried to walk from Taylor
Chevrolet to campus and found that construction made it difficult. I
fell but knew that if I needed help someone would come by.
12. I want my house to be preserved for at least another 11 or 12 years.
The cost of finding another house is getting out of reach for me.
Commercial development near me is making my house unsafe. My
house was here before the Teton Flood and it did not get wet from that
flood. It is built on rock. On my mission in France I lived in houses
older than the United States Government (1776) that had been
upgraded. Why should I be forced to move into a house built of
pressed wood when I have a house built of stronger materials?
13. Having the skate park by the airport is not realistic. Without
transportation to it, skaters use the Professional Plaza, campus, and
anywhere else. A recreation center near schools is where skate parks
and other amenities (restroom and drinking fountains) should be
located. Having the library near schools or other public buildings also
makes it more useful. Why not have summer reading programs
cooperative efforts with the school districts? Lincoln had a program
that was better for my third grader than the public library. Parent
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volunteers ran it. Grandparents would have added their visitors if they
had been aware of the program. Unify the school district before the
children reach Middle School by having a summer reading program at
different schools. Let the public library have the preschool program.
After students enter school they have different reading abilities which
is addressed by the AR system.
14. Residential areas that were not affected by the flood should be
preserved. Houses built since the flood in 1976 should be protected.
Planning should look back and forward. Why has this area been
putting money into the Junior High? I came here as a volunteer 27
years ago to clean the Junior High — I do not like the flood smell!
15. Housing should have sufficient parking for residents and a few
visitors. In Provo I had a friend who converted his garage into a music
room and he had to pave additional parking.
16. South of town has space for multiple family housing. No more
apartments should be built between campus and Main Street until the
parking problems are resolved.
17. Cresthaven and Millhollow to the south and east are where single
family neighborhoods should continue to grow. West and North and
South of Porter Park to the highways should continue to provide
single family dwellings. The only problem that I see with having
multiple family buildings near single family homes is parking and
generation differences. For example, college students tend to drive too
fast to live near single family homes. Kenwood should not be single
student housing!
18. Sidewalks and parking should be required in all residential areas
within the city limits. No single family home should be converted to
apartments without allowing for parking. One space parking for each
separate household should be required. Apartments should limit each
household to one car without making adjustments in their parking. For
example the 2nd South is supposed to be parking on one side of the
street. Occupancy permits should be withheld if off street parking is
not made after any construction in that area. Keep single student
housing between Second East and the old Yellowstone Highway.
19. The enforcement of current city ordinances has not protected my
property rights. I woke up to the sound of hammers to find that a
nearby business was expanding. The expansion did not allow for
additional parking. Frequently cars park in front of my driveway. Put
speed radar equipment near Smith Park and you will see that it is
getting dangerous to go to the park there.
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Some Thoughts Concerning Rexburg
1. The boundaries should extend far enough that small communities don't start developing
outside the city limits; they need to be included in the city.
2. The district needs to build a new high school, move the junior high students to the high school
and demolish the existing junior high building.
3. Build a new high school in a place where there is ample room and it is easily accessible.
4. More parking areas are needed close to the downtown shopping area so the stores there will
have customers.
5. No more than at present.
6. & 7. The downtown area needs to be revitalized by utilizing existing buildings and empty
spaces for businesses; more easily -accessible parking is needed for these businesses.
8. Multiple family housing should be developed in designed areas and not allowed to dilute
existing single family developments.
9. Single family neighborhoods should be developed by agreement of those who live in the areas.
10. Nothing more is needed.
11. Pedestrian safety and convenience are being overlooked. Since walking is becoming more
popular for health and economic reasons, more and better sidewalks need to be developed.
Some householders plant lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees where sidewalks should be; those
who walk have to tread on the vegetation or be forced out into the road. Vehicles should not be
allowed to park on sidewalks; the police are very lax in enforcing this ordinance.
12. A swimming pool is needed; an elaborate recreational center is not needed.
13. Parks are needed in the western and in the southern parts of Rexburg.
14. Some of the old rock homes need to be preserved.
15. A wide variety of housing is needed to accommodate the desires of permanent residents,
short-term residents, and students.
16. Many businesses in the downtown area need a facelift.
17. The current city ordinances are not strict enough about allowing apartments to be squeezed
into basements or back rooms of single-family dwellings. Also, see No. 11 above.
Alan Clark
Rexburg
City of Rexburg's Comprehensive Plan Suggestions
How far should Rexburg's boundaries extend?
I personally think they should extend as far as 12'h West on the Westside
of Rexburg. I live out in that area and there are a lot of farms that are not
in subdivisions. Let's leave these alone. With the commercial that is being
developed in this area along the highway, there would seem to be no
reason for the houses that are on either side of Hwy 33 to be annexed into
the City.
One other concern I have is for the public safety issue. Does the City
intend to have police and street crews (with snow removal equipment and
de-icing sprayers) out in the outlying areas with the same service as say
downtown Rexburg. It seems to me that all of this is stretched pretty thin
as it is.
What improvements would you like to see in Rexbure's public schools?
I think all of the area's schools should be maintained like the University's
buildings in that they have a physical plant department. Our schools
should be repaired before they get to the point that major repair is needed.
With the State budget going down every year and the district's struggling
to make up.... how can we think the tax payers of Madison County can
make up the difference? Everyone who has investments has been hit very
hard. When do we fix what we have, keep in really good repair and quit
thinking to just replace everything?
Where would you like to see the development of additional school facilities?
Please do NOT build a school along Hwy 33 out on the death trap
intersection of the Hibbard Highway and 12"' West. The additional traffic
just from all the subdivisions, Valley Wide Co-op and outlying areas in
staggering and very dangerous. Even with the proposed stop light, turning
lanes, etc it cannot possibly handle all the traffic from a proposed new
high school. You will have a bottleneck there that will never end.
I have lived on Hwy 33 for 32 years and it has become like a freeway in
many respects. We have lived through so many terrible accidents because
of motorcycles and fast moving vehicles trying to navigate around the
track traffic. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have narrowly
escaped being in a serious or fatal car crash coming from and going to
Rexburg.
Identify traffic or parking areas in Rexburg that need to be improved
We have the worst mess on 2"a East as compared to all the other streets in
Rexburg. Isn't there something that can be done with this? I know that the
State Hwy will fix it up this summer, but that is not going to do anything
about the traffic. Is there a belt route, if you will, that can be established to
alleviate some of the traffic. We need a stop light by CAL Ranch and
Deseret Industries. Parts of 2"d West need attention too at the intersection
of 2nd South and 2"d West.
PARKING, do we really seriously intend to take parrerel parking off of
Main Street or is this just talk? Yes, take if off of Main Street. The street is
too narrow in the winter months with the snow in the middle of the road.
When are we going to outgrow this problem of snow removal???? We
need more parking lots off of Main Street. Where? What about where the
old Food Center was?
What types of public transportation are needed in Rexbure?
We really need a good bus system for the University students and
residents to use. Like it our not our own is growing and with it we need
buses and reliable bus schedules. I think we are light years away from a
cab service, but it will happen someday.
Where would you like to see additional commercial development in the Citv?
Why can't we use some off Main Street areas for development? Almost
every thing we have is on Main, 2"d East or 2 N West. All the spaces are
mostly filled. Why not expand out from these areas. Lets keep all the
shops, eateries, entertainment away from the car lots and such businesses.
I would really like to see businesses off of 2"d East. With the newly
proposed Teton River Plaza, we will have even more traffic on 2nd East.
Can't something be done to put a bridge over the South Fork of the Teton
River and divert some of this traffic onto 151 East?
We need to have some sit-down, nice family restaurants in Rexburg.
Everyone who lives here is not a university student or a young family that
pretty well relies on fast food. You will never have people come from out
of town and shop here, unless you have a different variety of places to eat
besides pizza, Mexican, Chinese and hamburger joints.
What stens should be taken to revitalize and stimulate Rexbura's downtown area?
I hope the days of shoe shops and dress shops on Main Street are not over,
but I am afraid they are. Your retail outlet stores like K -Mart and Wal-
Mart are were people go. If you can establish some of your much-needed
family restaurants downtown it will bring people back. Again, you need
parking.
Where should new multiple family housine (apartments) be planned?
ht more centralized locations on the perimeters of Rexburg. That way the
older homes are protected with privacy and peace. If you have the
apartments in areas that are grouped together it will be easier for law
enforcement to patrol.
Which areas should develop into single-family neighborhoods?
Wherever they want to be as long as it is orderly and governed by
Planning and Zoning. Is all of Madison County going to be on large City
of Rexburg and Sugar City?
How could the City make better use of the greenbelt areas surroundine Rexbure?
Greenbelt should be established and money budgeted for this expense. We
have a beautiful City so let's be serious about putting in beautification
projects around our City. Look at Menan. They have a very nice walking,
biking, jogging path. Let's support the Madison Rivers Greenways
committee with funding and interested people who want to see greenways
implemented into our growth and expansion. Let's put greenways
everywhere we can. More and more families are looking for areas that
provide outdoor recreation. It doesn't matter the age, everyone could use
them.
You mean besides 2"" East? The area by CAL Ranch really needs a
stoplight. With people merging into the center lanes trying to get onto 2"a
East it is a wonder there is not more accidents. I am really concerned
about the increasing amount of traffic funneling from the Mother
Hibbard's/Valley Wide Coop area. We need more lanes for traffic and a
stoplight. I have heard this is being considered. Sooner would be better.
What about the problem with the new apartments that are being built on
West Main? They are going to have a hard time getting onto West Main in
the mornings without some kind of light there.
What public facility (library, recreation center) improvements would you like to see in
our community?
The only time I see the library having trouble is when there are meetings
scheduled. Why do we need a new library? A Recreation Center would be
very nice, but were is the money going to come from. Money is tight. If
you have a Recreation Center, it will mostly be for the city's residents.
How do you make it fair to everyone? Can grants be obtained to pay for
most of this? And now we need a new high school...
What should be the city's lone -term direction in the following areas?
a. Rexburg's greenbelt — I am completely for it. Let's get ideas from the
community and people interested in working on it and using it. It will
take money, donations and grants, but it will be such an asset to
Rexburg and all of Madison County. The Madison Rivers Greenways
committee has been working on this for the past two years. Let's get
the word out and bring this together as soon as possible.
b. Parks — I think there needs to be more parks around the City in the new
subdivisions. Rexburg is a family community so it makes sense to
have beautiful parks wherever possible. Nice, clean, safe, patrolled and
protected areas should be a priority for the Parks and Recreation
Department and citizens.
c. Recreation Center — More ball diamonds and soccer fields are needed.
A swimming pool would also be good. Something for families and
kids to do year round would be wonderful. I still think that by
donations and fundraisers we should raise as much money as possible.
With the new school bond coming up, why don't you try to do
something together? Can't the old Jr. High building gym be used for
some kind of recreation center? Does everything need to be tom down
and replaced with new, expensive buildings?
Are there special areas or sites in Rexburg that You would like preserved?
Yes, the old beautiful homes around the University should be preserved.
Buildings that can be renovated and preserved should be. Why does
Rexburg have to be gobbled up by BYU-I? Stick up for yourselves!
What about Main Street's buildings? Can't they be renovated and meet
safety requirement for say, earthquakes?
What types of housing would you like to see in Rexburg?
I think that housing should be regulated so that you keep neighborhoods
together as much as possible. An apartment here there and everywhere
isn't the key to every rule. The City should regulate the apartments in
homes too. I think with the great growth we have seen, the City was very
smart to say WHOA to give them time to think about development. These
buildings are going to be here for a very long time so do think about it.
Let's have designated areas where you can blend structures in with the
surrounding homes and businesses. One thing I would like to see is
commercial together in some main areas away from housing projects.
What tvpes of design standards would be helpful to creating a better community?
Keep a really good control on the new development. Don't be pushed into
making decisions about our City and community by out side interests. They don't live
here, we do. Regulate it like you have been doing. Kurt Hibbert is doing a wonderful job
and so is the Planning and Zoning Committee. Keep up the good work. Start charging
impact fees, why should all the construction company and developers make all the
money. At least the City will put it back into the City, the others will just move on to
gobble up more land and make more money. Again, it is OUR City; you have to stick up
for all of us.
Do You feel Rexburg's current city ordinances protect your community rights?
I think what you did with the Widdison Addition annexing was wrong.
You should have worked with them better. No one likes to be told what he or she will do
with his or her own property. The City of Rexburg certainly doesn't like it when the have
to be told to do anything contrary to the norm. No one likes something shoved at him or
her. You made concessions and you are to be commended for that. I would suggest
before you act on more subdivisions and annexing you take a better approach. Listen to
what people want and take their suggestion to heart. You can make all these changes for
others, but rarely do they effect you personally. We all have rights and feelings. I applaud
the City Counsel members who stuck up for the newly annexed folks. To those whom
didn't your time will come when you will be voted out and you will have no say either.
Comprehensive Plan Comments
How far should city boundaries extend?
From 7t°' South, north to the Moody Road, east to the US 20, west to Mill Hollow
Road. Stop annexing!
2. Improvements in schools?
Make better use of the existing facilities. Increase after-school programs to give
children and youth a place to go after school. Most problems are the result boredom
or lack ofsupervision.
3. Where develop additional school facilities.
Near the existing high school
4. Traffic areas that need improved:
Develop arteries that by-pass downtown and N2' East. There is too much
congestion in these areas.
5. Types of public transportation:
The CART system is underutilized as is — I don't believe public transportation is
feasible in Rexburg.
6. Additional commercial development:
North is logical The north freeway exit allows easy access and there is room to
install planned roadways.
Revitalize downtown:
You need to define revitalize. Idaho Falls has been trying unsuccessfully to attract
consumers into the downtown area for 30 years. Parking will always be an issue. It
is always easier to go to department stores with one -stop -shopping than to visit
several smaller stores in a downtown area. Specialized boutique businesses seem to
be the only enterprises that survive in a downtown environment. I suggest
incorporating a greenway into the downtown area which makes it so attractive to
pedestrians that they want to go downtown.
8. Apartments:
Keep college housing east of the college. With 6+ drivers/car owners in each
apartment there will always be congestion and parking issues. Therefore keep it by
the college, which most locals avoid anyway because of traffic issues. Single family
apartments, with restrictions on height, density, and buffers could go about
anywhere. Most locals are concerned about college housing not single family
housing.
9. Single family neighborhoods:
Develop single family neighborhoods to the west and south.
10. Better greenbelt utilization:
As mentioned above, use the greenbelt to enhance downtown — make it attractive and
desirable for pedestrians to go downtown.
11. dangerous/hazardous areas of the city:
Define dangerous/hazardous better — there are no areas where I feel unsafe.
12. Pubic Facility improvements:
Don't do a rec center —bad thing — underutilized— drain on revenue. Let the private
industry address it.
13. Long term direction
• Greenbelt — incorporate into downtown. As a bicycle rider I hate crossing town.
I have to ride on the roadways with the traffic
• Parks — require developers to incorporate parks and green areas into their
development plans.
• Rec center — don't do it.
14. Special areas that need preserved?
Only the tabernacle
15. Types of housing
No cracker -box apartment complexes — they are unattractive and suggest `poor
people ".
16. Design standards
Incorporate greenery. Don't allow concrete building block to dominate the city.
Nothing over three stores, even downtown. Keep the "small town "feel.
17. Do current ordinances protect my property rights?
NO. As a county resident but living within the impact zone I don't feel I have enough
of a voice in how the council does things. However, it seems to have improved
recently. I also believe each neighbor hood in the impact zone should have an elected
representative in the council.
PLANNING AND ZONING AND REXBURG CITY COUNCIL
You have been asking for input into the planning and revision to the city's
Comprehensive Plan.
We, in our neighborhood on South 5th West, have been so hurt and literally
devastated by what has taken place in our area that it has been difficult for us
to respond to your request.
Since the infamous meetings of the past couple of years where most of our
neighborhood were present to plead our case for single-family housing rather
than multiple student housing buildings, our neighborhood has "gone to
pot". Eight of our good friends and neighbors have sold their homes and
gone elsewhere --two to Rigby, two to the Parker area, one to Utah, one to
Boise, and two still undecided. Five more of our neighbors have their homes
on the market and are trying to sell. All of this in an area of only about a
block and a half. As we tried to explain to you -- no-one wants to live around
all this mass of student housing and apartments. We were afraid this would
happen -- and it has. We loved our neighborhood as it was -- but it is a huge
challenge now.
Needless to say, our neighborhood has been devastated. It is difficult to see
this happen. In your zeal to obtain a broader tax base, you have caused some
of Rexburg and Madison County's finest residents to seek housing elsewhere.
Please use caution in annexing more property into the city and issuing more
apartment building permits. Money is really not the most important issue.
The good will and care of friends and neighbors is more vital. We would not
like to see others go thru what we on South 5th West have been subjected to.
Wes & Lila Lawrence
795 South 5th West
Rexburg, 11) 83440
mailbox:///C /Documents%20and%20Settings/blairk/Application%20Da...
Subject: Comments on Draft Comprehensive PLan
From: "David Stein" <dstein@feg.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 12:15:22 -0400
To: "Blair Kay (E-mail)" <blairk@ci.rexburg.id.us>, "Winston Dyer (E-mail)"
<wdyer@thedyergroup.com>, "Kurt Hibbert (E-mail)" <kurth@ci.rexburg.id.us>
Gentlemen:
I will be out of town this Thursday and unable to attend the P&Z meeting. Below are my
initial comments on the comprehensive plan draft.
Section 1 - Stimulate and Revitalize Rexburg's Downtown
Objectives 1.1.1 & 1.1.2 - I disagree with utilizing vacated corner lots for
parking. In order to maintain the historical look of Main Street all parking should be
placed behind buildings per objective 1.1.3. Vacated lots facing Main Street should be
reserved for small pockets of green space (1.1.5) or for future construction projects.
I also suggest as part of 1.1.2 that managing available spaces include taking an
inventory of existing parking use. I have not seen studies indicating there is
insufficient parking. The fact that one needs to park a half block away from their
destination is not indicative of a parking crisis.
objectives 1.1.3 & 1.1.4. In order to revitalize downtown new construction must
blend in with historic buildings. Design standards should specify that from Melaleuca
and Broulims heading east all new construction should have building fronts close to
street with parking in rear. For example, a strip center with parking in front to
replace the junior high would be inconsistent with maintaining the existing downtown
building theme.
An additional objective to revitalize downtown is to adopt design standards for
all commercial zones, and specifically to encourage town center type developments on 2nd
east and downtown. Town center developments have "main street" type look with parking
in rear or very limited parking up front. This moves buildings closer to the street.
Standards should also limit the size of buildings to no more than 70,000 square feet,
forcing "Wal -mart" type stores to construct two story buildings. Applying strict design
standards for all buildings reduces the sprawling cookie cutter strip center development
with acres of blacktopped parking on 2nd east in favor of construction that is more
consistent with the historic theme of Rexburg. This would also reinforce Chapter 4
Objective 1.1.1 to encourage compact development. National chains and restaurants will
always provide their look-alike "standard" buildings unless required to adhere to the
city's design standards (i.e., the West Yellowstone McDonalds versus the Rexburg and
Idaho Falls McDonalds).
Section 2 - We Value the Organized Growth of a Sustainable Economy
Proposed Objective 1.2.3 - As a gateway community to several national parks,
tourism is a major and growing component of Rexburg's economy. Rexburg can continue to
attract tourists and new full time residents by ensuring the city has a unique and
attractive look and feel. This uniqueness can be fostered by revitalizing historic
downtown, adopting commercial and landscape design standards, and developing additional
historic and natural sites (i.e., Rexburg River Park).
Chapter 2 Parks and Recreation
Section 1
I recommend an additional objective to develop a comprehensive
conservation plan that inventories and designates areas of natural beauty that
need to be preserved for future generations. (i.e., Teton River corridor).
Also explore objective to encourage residential developments that allow for
smaller lots with a large common green area. This would preserve more open space, and
I oft 8/18/20015:11 PM
mailbox:///C l/Documents%o20and%20S ettings/blairk/Application%20Da...
reduce the amount spent to build and maintain roads since houses would be clustered
together.
Section 3 - Greenbelt Objective - 2.1.3 & 2.1.4
Include an objective to explore a park and recreations bond issue to fund
purchasing land along Teton River and development of River Park.
Section 4 on Landscape Design
Recommend an objective that states the city will adopt specific landscape design
standards for commercial and public buildings. This would include landscape design
standards for parking lots. Studies show consumers would much rather shop in landscaped
commercial enterprises rather than businesses with minimalist landscape strips by the
streets.
Thanks
David
J. David Stein
Managing Principal
Fund Evaluation Group, LLC
135 East Main Street
Rexburg, Idaho 83440
P. 208-656-9933
F. 208-359-0857
M. 208-317-3138
dstein@feg.com
2 oft $/18/2003 3:11 PM
Lee & Ann Dexter
150 South 12`h West
Rexburg, Idaho 83440
Re: Planning & Zoning
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Dexter:
P.O. Box 280
12 North Center Street
Rerhnrn Idahn RAddn
STATE OF IDAHO Phone (208) 359.3020
Fax (208) 359-3022
e-mail rexburg@srv.net
April 8, 2003
As the Planning and Zoning Administrator for the City of Rexburg, I reviewed your letter
dated March 28, 2003, and while I appreciate the fact that you are concerned about the manner in
which the recent changes in your neighborhood have taken place, I feel it is important for you to
understand some of the facts surrounding these changes.
In your letter you start off by stating that the City has "shown very little interest in the
opinions of those affected landowners." To the contrary, I believe the past several months have
been about nothing but showing an interest in the opinions of the affected landowners. The fact
that the City ultimately annexed the property is in no way evidence of a disregard for the citizens
wishes, but rather a weighing of all factors and a reasoned determination of what the City
considered to be in the best interests of the whole community.
Several years ago, well before there were any new businesses or apartments planned on
the west side of highway 20, the County approached the City and asked that we consider
extending our services into the County at various locations. After reviewing the options, the City
budgeted in the Spring of 2002 for the construction of water and sewer lines west of highway 20
between highway 33 and 7`h South. As a direct result of that planned decision by the City,
Valley Wide Coop purchased land west of highway 20 for the construction of their new facility.
The Cart was exactly where it should have been, behind the horse, and behind the planning of the
City.
Your letter further references the annexation as being "unlawful". Again, this just isn't
true. The facts that you have been given must be inaccurate, as the annexation process is very
carefully set forth in the State of Idaho Statutes, and the City followed them specifically. Again,
the fact that the end result was not what all of the neighbors in the area wanted, doesn't in any
way make the process illegal, or wrong, it simply makes it unpopular with some.
As has been pointed out time and time again, expansion is occasionally painful, and
often comes with costs. For instance in the immediate case of the annexation, the cost to the City
will be approximately $1,000,000 in infrastructure, of which only a small portion is likely to ever
be recouped. The cost to the annexed property owners ranges from nothing to thousands of
dollars. The City is of the opinion that these costs are warranted and acceptable when viewed in
the light of the whole community, and while the City recognizes that not everyone agrees with
this opinion, in the end, it is the responsibility of the elected officials of both the City and County
to plan for the community growth.
Finally, with respect to your concerns relative to the Impact Area being expanded to
include your property. This process is one of the many that takes place in planning process, and
is jointly undertaken by the City and the County. The law again provides very specifically for the
process, including notice, and was in this case followed specifically. Not only did the City hold
public hearings on the expansion, but they also placed notices on the edges of the proposed areas
of expansion. In addition, the County held their own public hearings on the matter, and shared in
the posting of notices on the perimeters of the affected areas. Individual property owners are not
entitled to individual notice when the number of affected parcels reaches a particular threshold,
which in this case it did. The laws of the State of Idaho deem the method of notice that the
County and the City chose to use as appropriate. The process was jointly participated in by both
the County and City, and spanned several weeks of hearings before being adopted.
The planning which you indicate is so critical to making well reasoned decisions was the
driving force behind expansion of the Impact Area. The incorporation of your property into the
Impact Area should have no immediate effect upon your current uses. The inconveniences that
you have suffered, and will suffer as a result of infrastructure being installed is consistent with
the growth of a vibrant community. The lifestyle that you imply in your letter is your entitlement
appears to be one of living as close to the City as possible while still being able to enjoy the rural
aspects of life. While there is nothing inherently wrong with wanting that particular lifestyle, it is
a choice that will by its very essence result in the problems you set forth in your letter. Close
proximity to an expanding city will ultimately result in absorption into the city.
As I stated at the beginning, the City recognizes that not everything they do will be
popular, but it is the intention of the elected officials and staff of the City of Rexburg to achieve
the most well reasoned and appropriate growth for this community that can be attained.
Sincerely
Ku Hibbert
P & Z Administrator
cc: Mayor
Council
Staff
5-17-03
Re: Input on the "Comprehensive Pian"
Mr. Blair Kay:
Since city officials are asking for input & suggestions from the public on their
"Comprehensive Plan", will you please provide a copy of the attached letter to
each person involved so that they may review it during their next meeting?
It is imperative in our plan for growth to provide a means of recovering fees from
the financial impact developers bring into our area so that taxpayers are not
overburdened. Developers must pay their own way, not only in their normal
building & development costs, but also in other ways that bring about financial
irrmnact to existing residents (as explained in my article).
These fees must be firmly in place immediately so that developers do not
continue to profit at the taxpayers expense.
Thank you for making this available to all City Council members, Mayor, Planning
and Zoning Commission, and all others involved in the process.
Mairlena A. Belhap
i 160 Widdison Lai
Rexburg, ID 83440
356-0198
THE HIDDEN COSTS OF GROWTH
Without :mr"ff bes;. a -M, �it'`zec pay a bundie tob rin
in new devel;pmentl
Until recently, I thought that growth always brings economic benefits to a community. But, the reality is
that poorly planned growth Often brings a variety of economic burdens that are borne by existing
residents, ie., expanded police and fire services, road expansion and maintenance, increased demand on
schools and extension of sewer and water lines.
One of the most important tools cities can use to address the hidden costs of growth is appropriate
appt/'ea �n ofamoact ��, t0 cover the exrns.,es for the infrastruc ure (such as sewers and roads)
and public services (such as fire and police protection) that the new development will require. Impact
fees are up front fees that the developers nay at the tune they are anproved for a b i ding permit. All
new development should reflect the true costs to communities and should pay their own way rather than
beinq supported by increased economic burdens on existing residents.
Why are taxpayers:.ontinvat/ysubsidizing high profit-making developers? A concern of our
aty rs that Charging thecle fees will sU le new development. NO JVf BYlI is hera t.,o, srw-1 =nd if one
developer chooses not to came here, another one will. Not having the fees in place is to all
existing residents in this boomtown atmo_sphPre who have to Pay Out-of-pocket for developers
infrastructure needs.
The City of Rexburg has already spent over $30,000. studying impact fees that haven't yetbeen utilized
to help taxpayers level out the costs of growth. Why weren't these fees implemented years ago?
I would like our city to demonstrate their serious-mindedness in implementing and charging impact fees
t0 new development Coming in a!! around us. There are immediate needs — for example, another
developer has just received final approval for his 60 home subdivision. If impact fees were in place,
those 60 homes could bring in well OVER $60,000OOto our tax structure to nroYide for the developer's
infrastructure needs! Since there are no fees to developers, taxpayers foot the bill. This is outrageous!
In a normal year Rexburg brings in $3-4 Million in new building permits. In 2002 alone, there was over
$74 Million! Imagine the developer's impact fees that could have been fairly assessed to help our town
pay for newly facilitated infrastructure!! Impact fees should be put into place immediatelyanticipating
more exponential growth!
Six cities in Idaho charge impact fees, but other states have charged them for years. According to Post
Falls City Planner, Collin Coles, ,.Implementation Of impact fees was not an easy pracess ... but it has
helped us a lot."
Proceeding with any annexations or new development without impact fees will continue to decrease the
bank balances of all existing residents and inspire resentment of city officials who have delayed their
implementation.
Marlena Belnap
5-10-03
31 May 2003
To Whom it May Concern:
At 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning I lied in bed with the echo of hammers showering through my window
and tears running down my face as I wondered how well those that made the decision to put apartments in
my backyard were sleeping or peacefully enjoying the privacy of their home. But most of all I was hoping
that someone could answer my questions.
1. Why aren't my homeowner rights protected by city ordinances? When we first inquired
about our home at 50 North 5' West in 1994 we were concerned about the open lots that
surrounded the perspective property. We were told that the home was located in a zoned area for a
single family neighborhood and if apartments were envisioned they would be low density housing
at the most. In 2002, when the plans were being made for the property behind us, we signed a
community petition and truly believed that the zoning board and city would do the right thing. Just
as I would report a crime and believe the police would carry out the investigation or I would take
my child to the doctor expecting him to diagnose the problem, I thought that our property would be
protected by the responsible group of individuals. I really believed that any reasonable person(s)
would not put high density housing in the middle of single family dwellings.
2. Why did you allow a poor decision to become an even more unpleasant one with very little
restrictions? Not only did you allow high density housing in several single dwelling backyards,
but you allowed them to tower over us with little restriction. You allowed them to have balconies
over looking our backyards, bedrooms and bathrooms, flood lights beaming into our homes and a
fence that is not solid or high enough to protect our privacy. Don't just learn from it, do
something about the current problem! After all you created it.
3. Why didn't you think about how you would feel if it were your homes?
Somehow, I really believed in a representative government, even in a small little room with
a zoning board protecting my property rights. But you failed to realize you represent more than
power, money and greed; you should have represented the little guy. As you drive by my property,
do not avoid the reality of what you see and think about how you would feel if that was your
backyard. Remember the golden rule?
4. Why have zoning or ordinances if they are not going to have an impact?
Our home was built here in 1987 in a single home area, at the most low density housing, but in
2002 the power of one destroyed several small homeowners' dreams. How can anyone build and
move into a home trusting that their property value and rights will be protected by the city?
I hope that these questions will be directed to the responsible parties and will be answered. When we tryto
sell our home in the next year, to find a place that will not violate our property rights and privacy, we hope
that your decision will not affect our property value. The reality is that your actions will plausibly
influence the marketability of our home. If our fears become a reality, we will need to obtain an attorney in
order for questions to be answered and find some justice in a world were there is becoming less and less.
;ely dishe d,
aurene Woolf
Rexburg, Idaho
June 23, 2003
Mayor Bruce Sutherland
Rexburg City Council
Planning and Zoning Commission
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen (Trusted Leaders),
My personal feelings in regard to long range planning with reference to
Rexburg involve the philosophy that inner Rexburg, as a living/ vital part of
the city, should be encouraged and promoted. I've seen cities in which the
inner core has been deserted and neglected until essentially nothing but an
empty shell remains. Significantly, deserted buildings with sagging doors,
shattered windows, and graffiti on the walls, present an invitation for crime
and vandalism.
Salt Lake City is a good model of what can be done to develop and
preserve the inner city. Of course, this requires a large expenditure of money,
and, I am aware that the LDS Church is involved in Salt Lake's inner city
imrovement and preservation. Perhaps Rexburg citizens would not support
monetary expenditures necessary to do what I'm suggesting, but certainly
unless city government vigorously recommends such a plan, and provides
necessary leadership, it will not occur. I do not want to witness the slow death
of inner Rexburg, while its peripheral areas are developed with modern malls.
motels, restaurants, car dealerships, fueling stations and attractive country
stores. ,
In keeping with what I have expressed, please consider, seriously, the
recommendations Gloria has included in her letter. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Alyn B. Andrus
64S.3 rdE.
Rexburg
are welcome to swing, play games and use the playhouse. The only rule is that if
a child uses bad language or gets angry with another child, that child must go
home for a "time out." That's what neighborhoods are all about.
Since I'm aware of empty buildings and empty lots in areas of Rexburg, and
since Alyn and I are both advocates of keeping downtown Rexburg a viable and
productive area of our town, I took a walk around several blocks this morning to
see if I could find some alternatives for locating doctors, lawyers, and other
"commercial" entities who have their eyes on South 3rd East. I'm not aware of
potential problems and situations with each of these sites — they are simply what
I observed this morning. But, in each case, the neighborhood entity, as such,
would not be disturbed.
• There are two small homes on East V South (#63 and #69) situated
between two existing businesses: Scott Mortensen's office and Rexburg
Opinion Center. Those two could be purchased, razed and provide a nice
office.
• There is a large vacant lot on the corner of East 1" South and College
Avenue. This property has been vacant for a number of years and would
provide space for a sizeable medical/professional building and adequate
parking.
• How much of the old Ida -Mont is vacant on the second and third floors? I
noted several empty areas even on the first floor. A clever developer could
remodel that (or raze it and start over) and have medical and legal offices on
the upper floors.
• In that same block is the old theater. Could that be converted to offices?
The interior of the block could be cleaned up to provide additional parking.
This is pie -in -the -sky, but I'd suggest a covered multi-level parking garage,
with doors from the second and third floors to access the upper levels of the
Ida -Mont and the theater (in connection with appropriate remodeling in both
of those buildings).
• There is a vacant corner on Center and Main.
0 There is a vacant lot south of the Tabernacle.
• There is an empty store/office on Main Street next to the Rexburg Police
Station.
• On the other side of the street, what will happen to the space which is now
occupied by BYU-I Art Department this fall when the new Spori opens?
• There is another empty space just east of this particular property.
• The Deb -N -Heir space is empty.
• The Coast to Coast store is empty.
• Could the City buy some of the parking lot from the old J.C. Penney store?
• Would Q -West sell the old telephone building and extensive property and
move outside of town (perhaps West Main, next to Valley Wide)?
• At 68 N. Center, a small house sits between two existing businesses. Could
it be purchased and become an office for a doctor or an attorney?
• There's a large vacant lot across the street from Brent's Lawn and Leisure on
East 1st North.
• There's a large vacant lot on East I" North, just east of the Doyle Walker
home.
• There's a large well -kept area just behind Maverick. Would the owner sell?
• Could one of the doctors share the building of the Orthodontic Center at 214
E. 1" North? It is used only part-time.
• On East 2nd North, there's a large lot east of the Rexburg Medical Center.
• There is extensive empty space north of the Rexburg Medical Center.
• There's a large empty lot on the corner of North 4Ch East and East 2nd North,
just south of the Rexburg Medical Center.
JUN -25-03 WED 14:39 TOM KENNELLY
602 368 0523
PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCI.....
Fax #359--3022 .
June 25, 2003
Dear Members of the Rexburg City Council:
2 pages
Thomas A. Kennelly
269 Nez Perce Avenue
Rexburg, Idaho 83440
Tel. (208) 656-0811
Pax (208) 656-9032
From articles in the Standard Journal it is evident that you are seeking
imput from the community to improve the "comprehensive plan", and indeed
hope
answers, ou are hlquentipeople,
eperson
has the andfretly much wisdom can be gleanedfrromthe
humblest of ,our citizens- hopefully they will come forth.
A few thoughts of my own;
1. Growth is an absolute "given". You can disregard the comments that
come from the campus that the student population will not increase.
With countless thousands of LDS kids across the country wanting to
go to a church school you can be sure Provo is limited and few will
go to Hawaii- --that means Rexburg will have continued growth for
many years to come,
2. Boundary plans are alwa s wrong -in every community—you should be
looking at the most sop isticated population projections available,
note their prOJections for Rexburgs population for 5-10-15 years
and then add another 50% and you may be somewhat close.
3. If indeed a new high school campus is built, it should be away from
Llie n.V-- un.a Liw .. q, Liyl Uunrne�o �IIo L, L.L, ivy legl lJ In Ll.c Nu Lli
of zoned growth, perhaps to the west.
4. Public transportation is not needed, nor can it be affordable for the
city to provide. These are the most expensive waste of taxpayer
dollars that a city can become involved with. Check every other
city in the country and you will have this confirmed.
5_ Commercdl development for Rexburg will logically move to the west.
Main street could eventually expand to, and beyond Highway 26.
6- Until the downtown businessmen finally come to the realization that it
takes money to make money—our shabby store fronts, and dismal, fading
hand painted signs are tired and of another era. Anyone who has ever
made any money in business knows that an attractive entrance and good
signage brings customers and profits. Mandate a downtown cleanup...
7. New multiple housing again, must be accomodated in the western part
of the city where there is new growth potential.
8. ENACT YOUR IMPACT FEES IMMEDIATELY... IT IS SAD THAT MANY, MANY THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN LOST THE LAST TWO YEARS WHEN THE CITY SHOULD HAVE
BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE FEES TO OFFSET INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS....
P.01
JUN -25-03 WED 14;39 TOM KENNELLY
602 368 0523 P.02
9. For the immediate future, regarding greenbelts, public library facilities
and recreational center should all be put on hold. With the needed
new high school and the absolute surety of massive tax increases (state
income, federal and property)you can be sure all bond issues will be
rejected. (With Idaho Falls rejection of a new center and having a
50,000 population, you can be certain the most our city should seek is
an enclosed, heated community swimming pool.
10. The city has been abysmally slow.to set architectural standards which
almost eXery c¢ty recognizes as basic to the maintenance of property
values. It is routine when the application for a building permit is
made to have an architectural review to value the general aesthetics
and types of materials used. Recommendations are then made to enhance
the proposed construction, and generally does not mean more cost to
the developer but aids him in providing a better product.
11. OUR CITY STREETS ARE BENINNING TO SHOW DECAY, AND SOON MAJOR STREET
IMPROVEMENTS WELL BE NEEDED. PLANNING TO ACCOMODATE THESE COSTS AND
THE WORST AREAS IDENTIFIED -,-PROPERTY VALUES CAN NEVER BE MAINTAINED
IN A COMMUNITY WHERE IT Is A ROLLER COASTER RIDE TO THE DOWNTOWN
DISTRICT. WITH THE RE BUILDING OF MAIN STREET AND 2nd. EAST,
THE POOR QUALITY OF OUR 'UTHER STREETS WILL BECOME VERY APPARENT.
Hopefully you as A Council Will look seriously at these suggestions and
others that will be brought to your attention. lie are at the crest of
the first wave, and many will follow. We need you to be far thinking
and wise ---what more can I say.
Sinrere7v.
City of Rexburg Comprehensive Plan Update Vision 2020
Resident for 15 years
1. A population of 30,000 is my guess for 2020.
2. I feel that it should be a joint effort with Madison County to set a
comprehensive plan for the whole county. Yes, a plan is needed. No,
it is not the job of Rexburg alone.
3. I plan to vote for the building of a new facility for the high school and
the conversion of the existing high school into a junior high.
4. Another elementary school will probably be needed south of Lincoln
and Kennedy. Perhaps the school district needs to look at
consolidating the southern schools (Archer and Burton) into a newer
facility if building continues south of Middle School. It should be on a
5 or so year plan after the high school bond expires.
5. Parking in the whole downtown area needs improvement. Look at
Twin Falls and Pocatello for models of improving downtown. For
example with the construction across from the theaters and more
apartments parking is limited. Removing the old Mexican restaurant
should have been part of the building permit. The old theater should
be given a deadline for occupancy. We have too many old buildings
from the flood standing empty. Grants should be sought to acquire
empty buildings and replace them with parking and other
beautification projects. With our climate a mall type facility is needed.
Why not get small businesses to move to the old Staples and Furniture
Warehouse building? A walking path around the outside with
storefronts in the center would improve commerce. Even Burley has a
mall!
6. Yes, a public transportation system is needed. Starting with school age
children a bus pass could be used to get students home from after
school activities for a fee. Work with BYU-Idaho to set up routes that
would move the parking congestion from the North part of campus.
Idaho Falls has a struggling CART system. Like the rail system in
Utah we could make it easier for people to commute. I would like to
pay for a bus to take me to Idaho Falls and back. I would even be
willing to pay to be transported to campus.
7. Keep the commercial development near highways! Why have
commercial development next to a park? Do you want to have our
town a stop on a serial child molester's trip? Both Smith and Porter
Park should have residential areas on three of the four sides.
Neighborhood Watch is needed near parks! A hospital and doctor's
offices are different from other commercial buildings.
1
8. Increase parking and make it more conducive to walking. Benches
and garbage cans invite people to linger.
i
9. Madison County is the government entity that should protect
agriculture. Cooperation is the city's contribution. Send a copy of the
results of your survey to the county and the newspaper.
10. Again it should not be the city's job to control growth outside our city
limits. The county and city could offer incentives or penalties for
developments that burden the water and sewer systems. Cooperation
with the county should make clusters of homes fit within a
comprehensive plan for the county and the cities. One house per 40
acres is rural. A cluster of houses with wells and septic tanks should
be discouraged outside service areas. If the developers want a cluster
have them develop their own service options. Wells go dry. Water
rights need to be regulated in rural areas. Culinary and agricultural
water need balance. Salt Lake City is concerned about its water
supply.
11. The Green Belt by the Teton River is not used because of parking and
its location. A friend likes to walk at the Nature Park but I do not
consider it safe for me. Having the biking and walking path from the
Middle School up to campus will be used more because it is near
areas that will be developed. It has a safer feel — traffic to make sure I
don't fall and lay there into the night. I tried to walk from Taylor
Chevrolet to campus and found that construction made it difficult. I
fell but knew that if I needed help someone would come by.
12. I want my house to be preserved for at least another 11 or 12 years.
The cost of finding another house is getting out of reach for me.
Commercial development near me is making my house unsafe. My
house was here before the Teton Flood and it did not get wet from that
flood. It is built on rock. On my mission in France I lived in houses
older than the United States Government (1776) that had been
upgraded. Why should I be forced to move into a house built of
pressed wood when I have a house built of stronger materials?
13. Having the skate park by the airport is not realistic. Without
transportation to it, skaters use the Professional Plaza, campus, and
anywhere else. A recreation center near schools is where skate parks
and other amenities (restroom and drinking fountains) should be
located. Having the library near schools or other public buildings also
makes it more useful. Why not have summer reading programs
cooperative efforts with the school districts? Lincoln had a program
that was better for my third grader than the public library. Parent
2
volunteers ran it. Grandparents would have added their visitors if they
had been aware of the program. Unify the school district before the
children reach Middle School by having a summer reading program at
different schools. Let the public library have the preschool program.
After students enter school they have different reading abilities which
is addressed by the AR system.
14. Residential areas that were not affected by the flood should be
preserved. Houses built since the flood in 1976 should be protected.
Planning should look back and forward. Why has this area been
putting money into the Junior High? I came here as a volunteer 27
years ago to clean the Junior High — I do not like the flood smell!
15. Housing should have sufficient parking for residents and a few
visitors. In Provo I had a friend who converted his garage into a music
room and he had to pave additional parking.
16. South of town has space for multiple family housing. No more
apartments should be built between campus and Main Street until the
parking problems are resolved.
17. Cresthaven and Millhollow to the south and east are where single
family neighborhoods should continue to grow. West and North and
South of Porter Park to the highways should continue to provide
single family dwellings. The only problem that I see with having
multiple family buildings near single family homes is parking and
generation differences. For example, college students tend to drive too
fast to live near single family homes. Kenwood should not be single
student housing!
18. Sidewalks and parking should be required in all residential areas
within the city limits. No single family home should be converted to
apartments without allowing for parking. One space parking for each
separate household should be required. Apartments should limit each
household to one car without making adjustments in their parking. For
example the 2nd South is supposed to be parking on one side of the
street. Occupancy permits should be withheld if off street parking is
not made after any construction in that area. Keep single student
housing between Second East and the old Yellowstone Highway.
19. The enforcement of current city ordinances has not protected my
property rights. I woke up to the sound of hammers to find that a
nearby business was expanding. The expansion did not allow for
additional parking. Frequently cars park in front of my driveway. Put
speed radar equipment near Smith Park and you will see that it is
getting dangerous to go to the park there.
k
Some Thoughts Concerning Rexburg
1. The boundaries should extend far enough that small communities don't start developing
outside the city limits; they need to be included in the city.
2. The district needs to build a new high school, move the junior high students to the high school
and demolish the existing junior high building.
3. Build a new high school in a place where there is ample room and it is easily accessible.
4. More parking areas are needed close to the downtown shopping area so the stores there will
have customers.
5. No more than at present.
6. & 7. The downtown area needs to be revitalized by utilizing existing buildings and empty
spaces for businesses; more easily -accessible parking is needed for these businesses.
8. Multiple family housing should be developed in designed areas and not allowed to dilute
existing single family developments.
9. Single family neighborhoods should be developed by agreement of those who live in the areas.
10. Nothing more is needed.
11. Pedestrian safety and convenience are being overlooked. Since walking is becoming more
popular for health and economic reasons, more and better sidewalks need to be developed.
Some householders plant lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees where sidewalks should be; those
who walk have to tread on the vegetation or be forced out into the road. Vehicles should not be
allowed to park on sidewalks; the police are very lax in enforcing this ordinance.
12. A swimming pool is needed; an elaborate recreational center is not needed.
13. Parks are needed in the western and in the southern parts of Rexburg.
14. Some of the old rock homes need to be preserved.
15. A wide variety of housing is needed to accommodate the desires of permanent residents,
short-term residents, and students.
16. Many businesses in the downtown area need a facelift.
17. The current city ordinances are not strict enough about allowing apartments to be squeezed
into basements or back rooms of single-family dwellings. Also, see No. 11 above.
Alan Clark
Rexburg
City of Rexbur$!'s Comprehensive Plan Suaeestions
How far should Rexburg's boundaries extend?
I personally think they should extend as far as 12`h West on the Westside
of Rexburg. I live out in that area and there are a lot of farms that are not
in subdivisions. Let's leave these alone. With the commercial that is being
developed in this area along the highway, there would seem to be no
reason for the houses that are on either side of Hwy 33 to be annexed into
the City.
One other concern I have is for the public safety issue. Does the City
intend to have police and street crews (with snow removal equipment and
de-icing sprayers) out in the outlying areas with the same service as say
downtown Rexburg. It seems to me that all of this is stretched pretty thin
as it is.
What improvements would you like to see in Rexbure's Dublic schools?
I think all of the area's schools should be maintained like the University's
buildings in that they have a physical plant department. Our schools
should be repaired before they get to the point that major repair is needed.
With the State budget going down every year and the district's struggling
to make up.... how can we think the tax payers of Madison County can
make up the difference? Everyone who has investments has been hit very
hard. When do we fix what we have, keep in really good repair and quit
thinking to just replace everything?
Where would you like to see the development of additional school facilities?
Please do NOT build a school along Hwy 33 out on the death trap
intersection of the Hibbard Highway and 12`h West. The additional traffic
just from all the subdivisions, Valley Wide Co-op and outlying areas in
staggering and very dangerous. Even with the proposed stop light, turning
lanes, etc it cannot possibly handle all the traffic from a proposed new
high school. You will have a bottleneck there that will never end.
I have lived on Hwy 33 for 32 years and it has become like a freeway in
many respects. We have lived through so many terrible accidents because
of motorcycles and fast moving vehicles trying to navigate around the
truck traffic. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have narrowly
escaped being in a serious or fatal car crash coming from and going to
Rexburg.
We have the worst mess on 2"tl East as compared to all the other streets in
Rexburg. Isn't there something that can be done with this? I know that the
State Hwy will fix it up this summer, but that is not going to do anything
about the traffic. Is there a belt route, if you will, that can be established to
alleviate some of the traffic. We need a stop light by CAL Ranch and
Deseret Industries. Parts of 2"d West need attention too at the intersection
of 2"d South and 2"d West.
PARKING, do we really seriously intend to take parrerel parking off of
Main Street or is this just talk? Yes, take if off of Main Street. The street is
too narrow in the winter months with the snow in the middle of the road.
When are we going to outgrow this problem of snow removal???? We
need more parking lots off of Main Street. Where? What about where the
old Food Center was?
What types of public transportation are needed in Rexburg?
We really need a good bus system for the University students and
residents to use. Like it our not our own is growing and with it we need
buses and reliable bus schedules. I think we are light years away from a
cab service, but it will happen someday.
Where would you like to see additional commercial development in the City?
Why can't we use some off Main Street areas for development? Almost
every thing we have is on Main, 2"d East or 2ND West. All the spaces are
mostly filled. Why not expand out from these areas. Lets keep all the
shops, eateries, entertainment away from the car lots and such businesses.
I would really like to see businesses off of 2nd East. With the newly
proposed Teton River Plaza, we will have even more traffic on 2nd East.
Can't something be done to put a bridge over the South Fork of the Teton
River and divert some of this traffic onto I5` East?
We need to have some sit-down, nice family restaurants in Rexburg.
Everyone who lives here is not a university student or a young family that
pretty well relies on fast food. You will never have people come from out
of town and shop here, unless you have a different variety of places to eat
besides pizza, Mexican, Chinese and hamburger joints.
What steps should be taken to revitalize and stimulate Rexburg's downtown area?
I hope the days of shoe shops and dress shops on Main Street are not over,
but I am afraid they are. Your retail outlet stores like K -Mart and Wal-
Mart are were people go. If you can establish some of your much-needed
family restaurants downtown it will bring people back. Again, you need
parking.
Where should new multiple family housing (apartments) be planned?
In more centralized locations on the perimeters of Rexburg. That way the
older homes are protected with privacy and peace. If you have the
apartments in areas that are grouped together it will be easier for law
enforcement to patrol.
Which areas should develop into single-family neighborhoods?
Wherever they want to be as long as it is orderly and governed by
Planning and Zoning. Is all of Madison County going to be on large City
of Rexburg and Sugar City?
How could the City make better use of the greenbelt areas surrounding Rexburg?
Greenbelt should be established and money budgeted for this expense. We
have a beautiful City so let's be serious about putting in beautification
projects around our City. Look at Menan. They have a very nice walking,
biking, jogging path. Let's support the Madison Rivers Greenways
committee with funding and interested people who want to see greenways
implemented into our growth and expansion. Let's put greenways
everywhere we can. More and more families are looking for areas that
provide outdoor recreation. It doesn't matter the age, everyone could use
them.
You mean besides 2"° East? The area by CAL Ranch really needs a
stoplight. With people merging into the center lanes trying to get onto 2"d
East it is a wonder there is not more accidents. I am really concerned
about the increasing amount of traffic funneling from the Mother
Hibbard'sNalley Wide Coop area. We need more lanes for traffic and a
stoplight. I have heard this is being considered. Sooner would be better.
What about the problem with the new apartments that are being built on
West Main? They are going to have a hard time getting onto West Main in
the mornings without some kind of light there.
What_pu_b_lic facility (library, recreation center) improvements would You like to see in
our community?
The only time I see the library having trouble is when there are meetings
scheduled. Why do we need a new library? A Recreation Center would be
very nice, but were is the money going to come from. Money is tight. If
you have a Recreation Center, it will mostly be for the city's residents.
How do you make it fair to everyone? Can grants be obtained to pay for
most of this? And now we need a new high school...
What should be the city's long-term direction in the following areas?
a. Rexburg's greenbelt — I am completely for it. Let's get ideas from the
community and people interested in working on it and using it. It will
take money, donations and grants, but it will be such an asset to
Rexburg and all of Madison County. The Madison Rivers Greenways
committee has been working on this for the past two years. Let's get
the word out and bring this together as soon as possible.
b. Parks — I think there needs to be more parks around the City in the new
subdivisions. Rexburg is a family community so it makes sense to
have beautiful parks wherever possible. Nice, clean, safe, patrolled and
protected areas should be a priority for the Parks and Recreation
Department and citizens.
c. Recreation Center — More ball diamonds and soccer fields are needed.
A swimming pool would also be good. Something for families and
kids to do year round would be wonderful. I still think that by
donations and fundraisers we should raise as much money as possible.
With the new school bond coming up, why don't you try to do
something together? Can't the old Jr. High building gym be used for
some kind of recreation center? Does everything need to be torn down
and replaced with new, expensive buildings?
Are there special areas or sites in Rexburg that you would like nreserved?
Yes, the old beautiful homes around the University should be preserved.
Buildings that can be renovated and preserved should be. Why does
Rexburg have to be gobbled up by BYU-I? Stick up for yourselves!
What about Main Street's buildings? Can't they be renovated and meet
safety requirement for say, earthquakes?
What types of housing would you like to see in Rexburg?
I think that housing should be regulated so that you keep neighborhoods
together as much as possible. An apartment here there and everywhere
isn't the key to every rule. The City should regulate the apartments in
homes too. I think with the great growth we have seen, the City was very
smart to say WHOA to give them time to think about development. These
buildings are going to be here for a very long time so do think about it.
Let's have designated areas where you can blend structures in with the
surrounding homes and businesses. One thing I would like to see is
commercial together in some main areas away from housing projects.
What types of design standards would be helpful to creatine a better communitv?
Keep a really good control on the new development. Don't be pushed into
making decisions about our City and community by out side interests. They don't live
here, we do. Regulate it like you have been doing. Kurt Hibbert is doing a wonderful job
and so is the Planning and Zoning Committee. Keep up the good work. Start charging
impact fees, why should all the construction company and developers make all the
money. At least the City will put it back into the City, the others will just move on to
gobble up more land and make more money. Again, it is OUR City; you have to stick up
for all of us.
Do you feel Rexburg's current city ordinances protect vour communitv rights?
I think what you did with the Widdison Addition annexing was wrong.
You should have worked with them better. No one likes to be told what he or she will do
with his or her own property. The City of Rexburg certainly doesn't like it when the have
to be told to do anything contrary to the norm. No one likes something shoved at him or
her. You made concessions and you are to be commended for that. I would suggest
before you act on more subdivisions and annexing you take a better approach. Listen to
what people want and take their suggestion to heart. You can make all these changes for
others, but rarely do they effect you personally. We all have rights and feelings. I applaud
the City Counsel members who stuck up for the newly annexed folks. To those whom
didn't your time will come when you will be voted out and you will have no say either.
Comprehensive Plan Comments
How far should city boundaries extend?
From 7th South, north to the Moody Road, east to the US 20, west to Mill Hollow
Road. Stop annexing!
2. Improvements in schools?
Make better use of the existing facilities. Increase after-school programs to give
children and youth a place to go after school. Most problems are the result boredom
or lack of supervision.
3. Where develop additional school facilities.
Near the existing high school
4. Traffic areas that need improved:
Develop arteries that by-pass downtown and N 2d East. There is too much
congestion in these areas.
5. Types of public transportation:
The CART system is underutilized as is — I don't believe public transportation is
feasible in Rexburg.
6. Additional commercial development:
North is logical. The north freeway exit allows easy access and there is room to
install planned roadways.
7. Revitalize downtown:
You need to define revitalize. Idaho Falls has been trying unsuccessfully to attract
consumers into the downtown area for 30 years. Parking will always be an issue. It
is always easier to go to department stores with one -stop -shopping than to visit
several smaller stores in a downtown area. Specialized boutique businesses seem to
be the only enterprises that survive in a downtown environment. I suggest
incorporating a greenway into the downtown area which makes it so attractive to
pedestrians that they want to go downtown.
8. Apartments:
Keep college housing east of the college. With 6+ drivers/car owners in each
apartment there will always be congestion and parking issues. Therefore keep it by
the college, which most locals avoid anyway because of traffic issues. Single family
apartments, with restrictions on height, density, and buffers could go about
anywhere. Most locals are concerned about college housing not single family
housing.
9. Single family neighborhoods:
Develop single family neighborhoods to the west and south.
10. Better greenbelt utilization:
As mentioned above, use the greenbelt to enhance downtown — make it attractive and
desirable for pedestrians to go downtown.
11. dangerous/hazardous areas of the city:
Define dangerous/hazardous better — there are no areas where I feel unsafe.
12. Pubic Facility improvements:
Don't do a rec center —bad thing — underutilized— drain on revenue. Let the private
industry address it.
13. Long term direction
• Greenbelt — incorporate into downtown. As a bicycle rider I hate crossing town.
I have to ride on the roadways with the traffic
• Parks — require developers to incorporate parks and green areas into their
development plans.
• Rec center — don't do it.
14. Special areas that need preserved?
Only the tabernacle
15. Types of housing
No cracker -box apartment complexes — they are unattractive and suggest `poor
people ".
16. Design standards
Incorporate greenery. Don't allow concrete building block to dominate the city.
Nothing over three stores, even downtown. Keep the "small town" feel.
17. Do current ordinances protect my property rights?
NO. As a county resident but living within the impact zone I don'tfeel I have enough
of a voice in how the council does things. However, it seems to have improved
recently. I also believe each neighborhood in the impact zone should have an elected
representative in the council.
328 East Main Street
Rexburg, ID 83440
July 2, 2003
Mayor Bruce Sutherland and City Council
Rexburg City Hall
12 North Center Street
Rexburg, ID 83440
Dear Mayor Sutherland and City Council members,
We are submitting this as written testimony for a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan
scheduled for July 2, 2003.
The East Main Street Neighborhood Association would like to request that the Rexburg Planning
and Zoning Commission and the City Council amend the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Plan to
better reflect our vision for future development in our neighborhood.
We are requesting that you change the land -use designation from Commercial to both Single
Family Residential and Multi -Family Residential (see attached map). Our association believes
this reflects the desires of most residents within our association boundaries, and is also in the
best interests for future development of the entire city.
We believe this older residential area of the city is a valuable resource to the city. Besides
providing reasonably -priced, single-family housing for middle income residents of the city, it is
a well intact area of historic and older homes with various architectural styles. This residential
area is conveniently located within walking distance from the downtown business district,
providing easy access to retail stores, offices, places of employment, schools, churches, the
hospital and Smith Park.
The three -block area in question includes currently zoned residential areas within the East Main
Neighborhood Association, which runs from Second East to Ash Street and from First North to
First South streets. It excludes areas that currently are within the Commercial Business Zone and
Highway Business Zone.
Attached is a report that was prepared by our neighborhood association last year concerning
professional office space in Rexburg. We believe there are several other areas in the city that are
much better suited for offices than this well established residential neighborhood. We
particularly believe that additional professional offices in the central business district would help
to revitalize the economy of downtown Rexburg.
Sincerely,
Raymond Hill
President
Recommendations
for Future Professional Office Space
for the City of Rexburg
and Its Impact Area
By The East Main Neighborhood Association
Raymond Hill, President
May 22, 2002
The East Main Neighborhood Association was recently asked by the Rexburg Planning and
Zoning Commission to propose appropriate future locations for professional offices.
The neighborhood association, which has been opposed to such offices in its own residential
neighborhood, accepted this invitation and has written its recommendations in this report.
The association appreciates the confidence that the Planning and Zoning Commission has placed
in our association and seriously undertook to evaluate and submit viable options for your
consideration. These proposals were adopted by a majority vote of members of our association.
We look forward to working closely with you in the future. The purpose of our nonprofit,
nonpartisan association is primarily to preserve and enhance the quality of life and historic character
of our neighborhood. We also have a strong desire to establish and maintain a close working
relationship with the Rexburg City Council and Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission.
Additional Professional Office Space
Will Be Needed as City Grows
Members of the East Main Neighborhood Association understand that additional professional
office space will be needed in the future as the city continues to grow. With continued growth, the
city will require space for all types of land uses, including residential, commercial and industrial
uses.
While recognizing inevitable growth, the neighborhood association is opposed to changes in
land -use in well established residential areas of this city. In particular, we are strongly opposed to
redesignating the residential area between downtown Rexburg and Madison Memorial Hospital for
professional offices merely because it would be convenient to the medical community.
This well established residential area of the city is currently protected under the zoning ordinance
as Low Density Residential 1. It is one of the older sections of the city, containing many older and
historic homes of a variety of architectural styles. It is an ideal residential location, located within
walking distance of the downtown retail area, schools, professional offices, the university, the
hospital, and one of the city's two major parks.
Page 1 of 5
Preserve and Protect
Residential Neighborhoods
Most cities throughout the country
protect such residential areas from
encroachment by commercial and
industrial uses. Older residential
sections of cities are typically protected,
even though there may be economic
pressures for development.
The East Main neighborhood is
located on the edge of a very large
residential area that extends eastward
and southward at the base and on the
Rexburg hill. This residential area
surrounds Madison Memorial Hospital
and a few isolated professional office
areas that have been allowed here on a
limited basis.
While it may seem almost harmless The Steve and Sharon Oakey home at 25 S. Third East is a historic
to rezone a residential lot here or there home in the East Main neighborhood.
for professional office use, the
neighborhood association is concerned about the long-term effect of such an approach. It is our belief
that this will lead to additional pressure to continue to rezone residential property. As the city
continues to grow, existing professional offices will naturally desire to grow into the surrounding
residential area.
In the case of our neighborhood,
a piecemeal approach to allow
professional offices here and there
would eventually make the entire area
undesirable for residential living. The
older homes that provide architectural
variety to the city would one by one
be replaced with professional offices
with no historic value.
For this reason, the association
believes other locations within the
city and its impact area are better
suited for such professional office
development than residential areas.
This report hopes to outline some of
these areas.
The LaRae Clarke home at 264 East Main Street is another home of
historic value.
Page 2 of 5
Encourage Professional Offices
in Central Business District
It is no secret that the downtown central
business district has been changing from a
retail area to a place for other types of
commercial and service uses. Retailers are
finding other areas of the city to locate, leaving
vacancies in buildings in this area.
It is our proposal that professional offices
should be encouraged to locate in the central
business district where they are already
allowed under the current zoning ordinance.
Additional professional offices would
strengthen downtown economically, and in Community Care located at 72 East Main Street is an
return might even bring future retail use back example of a professional medical office in downtown
to the area. Rexburg.-
According to Mitch Neibaur, chairman of
the Rexburg Area Promotion and Business ;
Development committee, additional=s
professional office development would be
ideal for the downtown area. �r
Examples of medical offices that already'"
are located downtown include Community
Care, Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine,
Family Vision Center, BioMedics: the Plasma Rexburg Vision Center located at the corner of College
Avenue and First South is another example of a
Center, The Chiropractic Center, Roderick professional office building in downtown Rexburg.
Chiropractic, Dr. Ward and Dr. Snarr dental
offices, Rexburg Vision Center, Family Dentistry, and Upper Valley Internal Medicine. There are
also many other professional offices in the business district, including accountants, attorneys,
insurance agents and financial advisors. These facilities have proven to be very positive
developments for the business district.
It is impossible for this report to
recommend specific locations for future . �e �•-t.."��"`�'"t "
professional offices. However, there are
vacant storefronts and properties that could be
used for such purposes throughout this area. A i.
quick survey shows vacancies in the former
True Value Hardware Store, Westwood
Theatre, Brick Wall, Idamont Hotel and Sugar
Factory Smokehouse, along with vacant lots
next to Taco Bell and across from Career The former True Value Hardware Store at 66 East Main
Beauty College on College Avenue. Street is an example of a currently vacant building that
could be used for professional office space.
Page 3 of 5
Job Service and District 7 Health are located in a commercial area near Third East and Barney Dairy Road.
This undeveloped area is very close to Madison Memorial Hospital and is ideal for professional office buildings.
Encourage Professional Offices
in Highway Business Districts and Undeveloped Areas
Instead of turning to residential areas for
professional office space, we also recommend
that you encourage professional offices in
other areas of the city that are currently
designated for commercial purposes, including
professional office buildings. Such areas
include several existing Highway Business
Districts (particularly along North Second
East and west near U.S. Highway 20),
business parks, and future areas that will be
developed on the north and west side of the Egbert Chiropractic Center has just located in the Rexburg
city. Business Park. Collaborative Genetics will be next door.
Examples of professional offices already Business parks such as this are an ideal place for
located in such areas include new office professional offices.
buildings east of C -A -L Ranch Store in the vicinity of Walker Drive including District 7 Health
Office, Health and Welfare, and Job Service. This area also is very close to Madison Memorial
Hospital and there appears to be a large amount of land in this area for future development.
A business park is also an ideal location for fixture professional offices. For example,
professional offices that already are located in the Rexburg Business Park include Egbert
Chiropractic Center, the fixture home of Collaborative Genetics, Rexburg Counseling and the Family
Crisis Center. When this business park is filled, there undoubtedly will be another business park
developed.
There are large tracts of undeveloped land located on the north edge of the city and west of the
city near U.S. Highway 20 that are also ideal locations for future professional offices without
disrupting existing residential areas.
Page 4 of 5
Future Hospital Needs
If the population estimates are correct, the size of Rexburg will significantly grow in the next 20
years. This being the case, it would seem natural that the size of the hospital will also grow
significantly.
Earlier this year John Watson, who was then serving as a member of the Planning and Zoning
Commission and also a consultant to Madison Memorial Hospital on its long-range plan, presented
a proposal to the commission to place aprofessional office overlay across an area nearly surrounding
the hospital, including property on Maple Drive, Morgan Drive, Ash Street and East Main Street.
While this ambitious plan was rejected by the Planning and Zoning Commission, it is obvious there
will be pressure to develop adjacent residential areas as the hospital continues to grow.
While it is a very expensive recommendation to relocate the hospital outside of the city in an
undeveloped area where it can spread out, it may be the long-term solution. Otherwise, pressure by
the hospital to grow will not only impact the three blocks in our neighborhood association, it will
also impact other well established residential areas that surround the hospital on all sides. The
purchase of homes would not only damage these residential areas, but also would be more costly
compared to the price of undeveloped land outside the city.
Conclusion
We hope this report has given the Planning and Zoning Commission a vision of where future
professional offices can be located. Of course, it is very difficult to specifically pinpoint locations
for individual offices. This must be done by private developers, investors, doctors and other
professionals on an individual basis.
We believe it is clear from this study that there is ample room for the expansion of professional
offices in many areas of the city without disturbing existing residential areas.
Page 5 of 5
City Council Meeting
September 18, 2002
Good evening Honorable Mayor Sutherland, City Council, City Clerk, and the City Attorney.
My name is Corey D. Barnard and I reside at 272 East 2nd South, Rexburg, Idaho. This past
summer, a young couple purchased the house across the street located at 267 East 2°d South.
They told me that they needed to rent out a portion of the house in order to "make ends meet" I
made contact with the City of Rexburg and inquired if a conditional use permit had been applied
for and granted for this property. The City had not granted nor received an application.
Subsequent to my visit an inspector was sent to the address and was told that they were only
remodeling a toilet and would not be renting out a portion of their house. Over three weeks ago a
married couple moved into the house along with a single student. This is in addition to the couple
that own and reside in the house thus making this residence a triplex. Other neighbors and myself
have complained about this situation; so far to no avail. The two rental families are still in the
house and there has been no citation issued and no move for an application for a conditional use
permit. This is just one of many stories that could be told across the city. I have learned that the
City has received and has in a manila folder a number of such other complaints from our
neighborhood and others around the City. The City has historically ignored such complaints
without much if any enforcement of the laws but now admittedly must take some kind of action
because things appear to be "getting out of hand." This has created parking problems in our
neighborhoods as well.
To address the overall problem, I would like to suggest the City take the following actions:
1. Any home owner who is currently operating a duplex, triplex etc. without a conditional
use permit and has been doing so for less than a calendar year be immediately lined and
their tenants removed from their premises with due notice.
2. Immediately, or put on the agenda for the September 25' work meeting with the Planning
and Zoning Committee, the institution of a moratorium on all conditional use permits in
LDR 1 Zones until the City and BYU-Idaho can adequately address the housing needs of
married students in our community. This will allow the City time to sort out existing
complaints. It certainly should not be the responsibility of my neighborhood to bear the
burden and suffer the consequences of the College's need to expand without adequate
infrastructure and support for their married students.
3. The City move forward on its plans to implement the Parking Overlay system of
permitting cars for residential areas adjacent to BYU-I during class hours for residents of
those homes only.
R5qqfully submitted,
C/Corey D. Barnard