HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.15.2020 P&Z Minutes_exppdf
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City Staff and Others:
Alan Parkinson – P&Z Administrator
Will Klaver – Planning Technician
Natalie Powell – Compliance Officer
Tawnya Grover – P&Z Administrative Assistant
Spencer Rammell – City Attorney
Chairman Rory Kunz opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call of Planning and Zoning Commissioners:
Present: Chairman Rory Kunz, Greg Blacker, Vince Haley, Kristi Anderson, Todd Marx, Randall
Kempton, Sally Smith, Aaron Richards, Jim Lawrence.
Absent: John Bowen, David Pulsipher.
Minutes:
Planning & Zoning Meeting October 1, 2020 (action)
Work Meeting October 1, 2020 (action)
MOTION: Motion to approve the minutes as recorded for the meetings of October 1, 2020. Action:
Approve, Moved by Randall Kempton, Seconded by Sally Smith.
Commission Discusses the Motion: None
VOTE: Motion passed (summary: Yes = 7, No = 0, Abstain = 2).
Yes: Aaron Richards, Chairman Rory Kunz, Greg Blacker, Jim Lawrence, Randall Kempton, Sally Smith,
Vince Haley.
Abstain: Kristi Anderson, Todd Marx.
Chairman Rory Kunz said tonight we have a hearing for a Development Code review. I hope that
everyone had a chance to review those changes to understand what we are going through. He asked if there
was anyone who had not received the email with all the documents for review. All the Commissioners
indicated they had received the email.
Public Hearings:
1. 6:35 p.m. – (20-00660) – Development Code Ordinance Amendment – Amendments to
Subdivision Process and associated sections to align with these amendments. New Lot Line
Adjustment section. (action) – City of Rexburg
Applicant Presentation – Alan Parkinson – He reminded everyone to speak into the microphones
closer and louder. The masks makes it difficult to hear in the recordings. When it comes to city code
and the application process for a subdivision, the current process is to have a preliminary plat and a final
plat process. In reviewing the state statutes, we have found we could combine those into one plat
application. This would make the process simpler and easier for those who come to the city to apply.
35 North 1st East
Rexburg, ID 83440
Phone: 208.359.3020
Fax: 208.359.3022
www.rexburg.org
Planning & Zoning Minutes
October 15, 2020
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The changes do not take away any of the requirements other than the applicant does not have to attend
two separate meetings to do that. Public Works has reviewed the process and they have made some
changes. Public Works has identified the sewer and water requirements for D.E.Q. have been
upgraded to meet their needs. Some adjustments have been made to Lot Line Adjustment, Lot Split or
Lot Combination to simplify the process. Staff has reviewed these changes and they feel this is
something would be a benefit to the city. He would like to give Tawnya the credit; she has done the
work rewriting this and preparing this for us. She has spent a lot of time doing that.
Commissioner Questions: Vince Haley confirmed no standards have changed; they have just been
upgraded to state standards. If there are changes to a plat, do the people have to come back? Alan
answered changes to a plat would need to come back through the process. We also cover the short plat.
We also have what is called an Infrastructure Plan, which is part of what we review with Public Works
and Planning & Zoning. This is laid out to all be done in one process all the way through. Vince
Haley said as a Commission, they do not need to worry about the Infrastructure Plans, because they are
all staff reviewed. He asked if there was any reason we would not move forward with this. Are there
any cons to this at all? Alan cannot see that any of the changes conflict. The section has been
reworded, restructured and simplified. Changes to the infrastructure requirements would have had to be
changed anyway. Keith has upgraded some of the engineering standards for the infrastructure that
needs to be upgraded to meet the current standards. These engineering standards would have needed to
be changed anyway. Chairman Rory Kunz asked how the workflow flowchart is being integrated. Is
this something that will go in the code or is this just something you hand out to people who come and
apply? The flowchart is mainly for the Commissioners to see how the process is going to be handled.
Internally, we will walk the applicants through the process to help them understand what will happen.
Rory said as he read, some items were green, some were black. The green is new and the black is not
changing. Then, there was some red and some red striked through. Alan answered, red is removed.
Some of those that are red and striked through have been moved to a different section. Rory asked
how many pages this shortens the current code we have. Alan said this is difficult to determine. Now
that we are in Municode, we do not get a number of pages; all we see is a reduction. Alan is guessing
the code is shortened by five to ten pages. Rory feels anything that makes the code simpler is better.
Rory noticed some of the document is more informational than code. Alan answered; we are trying to
make the document so that anyone from the public coming in and looking at the code will be able to
understand. Rory was wondering if the subdivision code could be shortened anymore. Taking this
verbiage out may mean that Staff has to do more explaining when people come in. Rory suggested a
separate brochure or sheet for those who need it that we reference in this section. Is this a possibility?
Alan said there is a challenge with making something too short for the public. An example of the
duplex conversion process is needed right now to help people understand what is needed. Randall
Kempton asked how many people actually read the website. Alan said a variety of people comes to the
city; some people do not know anything about the code and some people come in knowing our code
better than we do. Vince Haley asked if there was a cost savings of not having to do the second
process. Alan answered; this is a cost savings and timesavings due to only one process instead of two.
One fee is being removed. Randall Kempton referenced 10.030.080 as the section where the lighting
was removed. The lighting section was moved to constitute its own section. Many of these sections
had to be moved from one place to another to consolidate them. I wish we could show you what the
section will look like. To be clear and transparent, we have to show you what we are moving, what we
are removing and what we are changing. If you study the document deeper, you will find a lighting
section. The street lighting section is 10.04.090. Aaron Richards said this is an outstanding concept.
What will this be called? Preliminary? Final? Alan said it will just be called a “Plat” application. There
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will be no final or preliminary, just a plat. Along with a “Plat”, there will be an “Infrastructure Plan.”
They come in at a similar time. The plat comes before the Planning & Zoning then City Council.
Aaron confirmed this puts an emphasis on the engineering and development first. Changes can then be
made to the plat to adjust to the needs of the infrastructure. The plat will be adjusted before coming
before the Commission and Council. Chairman Rory Kunz confirmed private drives and parks would
be administratively approved through a Short Plat. No street dedications are needed when you do a
short plat. Anything larger than five lots will need to come before both bodies.
Conflict of Interest? - Chairman Rory Kunz asked the Commissioners if they have a conflict of
interest or if they have been approached by any parties relative to this particular subject. If you believe
your prior contact with respect to this subject has created a bias, you should recuse yourself, otherwise
at this time please indicate the nature of your conversation or contact. None.
Chairman Rory Kunz reviewed the public hearing procedures.
Written Correspondence: None
Favor: None
Neutral: None
Opposed: None
Rebuttal: None
Chairman Rory Kunz asked if anyone else would like to speak. He closed the public input portion of
the hearing at 6:48p.m.
Commissioners Discussion: Sally Smith asked what subdivision platting was last approved in
Rexburg. Keith Davidson believes Thomson Farms and Summerfield are the last subdivisions; both of
these are Planned Unit Development. Sally asked if developers had been included in the draft of this
section. Alan answered, no, this is mostly staff recommendation. Vince Haley said Planning &
Zoning have been doing a lot of work the last couple of months as many proposals that have come
before the Commission. Thank you. We appreciate your work.
MOTION: Motion to recommend to City Council to approve the proposed changes to the
Development Code subdivision chapter to simplify the process and make it easier for the
applicants, saving them time and money., Action: Approve, Moved by Vince Haley, Seconded
by Randall Kempton.
Commission Discusses the Motion: None
VOTE: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 9).
Yes: Aaron Richards, Chairman Rory Kunz, Greg Blacker, Vince Haley, Jim Lawrence, Kristi
Anderson, Randall Kempton, Sally Smith, Todd Marx.
Sally Smith asked where we are with the changes on the Comprehensive Plan hearings. Alan answered
the maps are ready, but this part of the whole Comprehensive Plan. We are not trying to get this
approved at this time. We will bring sections for review before the Commission next.
Heads Up:
November 5, 2020 Hearings:
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1. (20-00770) – 1350 Thompson St - Rezone from Community Business Center (CBC) to Light
Industrial (LI)
Adjournment 6:51 p.m.