HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN RESPONSE - Valley Wide CO-OP - 1175 W Main - Final PlatJuly 28, 2003
Mayor Sutherland and City Council:
We the undersigned, who reside near the proposed Valley Wide Co-op Subdivision No. 1, wish
to make you aware of our feelings concerning this proposed commercial subdivision. Per the
requirements of existing city ordinances, and as agreed upon by the Rexburg Planning and
Zoning Commission, a buffer zone is required between this commercial subdivision and the
Widdison RR -2 subdivision.
The Planning and Zoning Commission, in their July 17, 2004 meeting, requested that this buffer
consist of a 6 ft. high solid fence; and evergreen trees, which would be at least 6 ft. tall in 3 years,
spaced a maximum of 30 ft. apart. To provide adequate buffering the maximum spacing should
be no more thanl5-20 ft. It is also recommended that spruce trees, rather than pine trees, be used
since they are more dense and more durable.
We also desire to express a concern about the existing Valley Wide Co-op business now in
operation. Essentially ever, night, long-haul truckers park their trucks on the asphalt near the
Valley Wide business. Some of these trucks have refrigerators which run during the night, and
once the cold weather arrives, they will probably leave their main engines running during the
night.
At the time this business applied for building approval from the city, the owners stated that it
would not be a truck stop. Although it may not have been intended for a truck stop, it has
become one. We request that overnight parking by long-haul truckers in that area be prohibited.
The site plan for this business also showed a buffer zone with trees on the south side of the
business property. We have seen no indication of this buffer being constructed.
Thank you for your consideration of these issues.
July 28, 2003
Mayor Sutherland and City Council:
We the undersigned, who reside near the proposed Valley Wide Co-op Subdivision No. 1, wish
to make you aware of our feelings concerning this proposed commercial subdivision. Per the
requirements of existing city ordinances, and as agreed upon by the Rexburg Planning and
Zoning Commission, a buffer zone is required between this commercial subdivision and the
Widdison RR -2 subdivision.
The Planning and Zoning Commission, in their July 17, 2004 meeting, requested that this buffer
consist of a 6 ft. high solid fence; and evergreen trees, which would be at least 6 ft. tall in 3 years,
spaced a maximum of 30 ft. apart. To provide adequate buffering the maximum spacing should
be no more thanl5-20 ft. It is also recommended that spruce trees, rather than pine trees, be used
since they are more dense and more durable.
We also desire to express a concern about the existing Valley Wide Co-op business now in
operation. Essentially every night, long-haul truckers park their trucks on the asphalt near- the
Valley Wide business. Some of these trucks have refrigerators which run during the night, and
once the cold weather arrives, they will probably leave their main engines running during the
night.
At the time this business applied for building approval Lroznn the city, the owners stated that it
would not be a truck stop. Although it may not have been intended for a truck stop, it has
become one. We request that overnight parking by long-haul truckers in that area be prohibited.
The site plan for this business also showed a buffer zone with trees on the south side of the
business property. We have seen no indication of this buffer being constructed.
Thank you for your consideration of these issues.
Name Address Nie Address
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Valley Wide Co-op Property
mailbox: ///C l/Documents%20and%2OSettings/blairk/Application%2ODa...
Subject: Valley Wide Co-op Property
From:,"Harris, Brent" <brent.harris@anlw.anl.gov>
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 08:12:06 -0600
To: "Benfield, Donna"' <donna@rexcc.com>, "Bjorn, Marsha"' <srb44@juno.com>, "Tullmer, Nyle"'
<ncfullmer@hotmaii.com>, "'Larsen, Shawn" <slarsen30@go.com>, "Pond, Glen"'
<glen.pond@pacificorp.com>,`"'Sutherland, Bruce"' <bruces ci.rexbur .id.us> Pu
< aul. u @ g `� gmire, Paul"
P P gmire@anlw.anlgov>
CC: '"Kay, Blair' <blairk@ci.rexburg. d.us>
Honorable Mayor and City Council:
I would like to provide some public input concerning the proposed Valley Wide Co-op Commercial
Subdivision No. 1- I live in the Widdison Additon directly south of the Valley Wide property. As
required by existing city ordinances, and as agreed upon by the Rexburg Planning and Zoning
Commission, a buffer zone is required between this commercial subdivision and the Widdison RR -2
subdivision.
The Planning and Zoning Commission, in their July 17, 2004 meeting, requested that this buffer zone
include construction of a 6 ft. high solid fence; and planting of evergreen trees, which would be at least 6
ft. tall in 3 years, spaced a maximum of 30 ft. apart. I feel that is reasonable and should be a minimum
requirement for approval of the final plat.
I would also like to express a concern about the existing Valley Wide Co-op business now in operation.
Essentially every night, long-haul truckers park their trucks on the asphalt near the Valley Wide business.
Some of these trucks have refrigerators which run during the night and, once the cold weather arrives,
they will most likely leave their main engines running.
At the time this business applied for building approval from the city, the owners stated that it would not
be a truck stop. Although it may not have been intended for a truck stop, it has become one. I feel that
overnight parking by long-haul truckers should be prohibited in that area. The approved site plan for the
co-op also showed a buffer zone with trees on the south side of the business property line. I have seen no
indication of this buffer being constructed.
I will be out of town when you hold your next meeting on July 3th » kindliia
y re that you consider
these issues when you discuss approval of the Valley Wide Co-op No. lvfinal plat Thank v
you for all you do to help our city.
Brent G. Harris, P.E.
1125 Widdison Lane
Rexburg, ID 834440
E-mail: bpharris@ida.net
Phone: 208-356-6387
1 of 1
7/29/2003 8:16 AM
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
Mayor Sutherland and City Council:
We sent a letter to your city council meeting, July 2, pointing out that there is great concern in
our neighborhood about 3 issues with Valley Wide Co-op/i+TOT-a-Truck-Stop/Truck Stop which
has moved in behind our neighborhood:
1. Devaluation of our homes if effective buffer zones are not installed hiding this business (and
other incoming businesses next to Valley -Wide) from our homes. Essentially, this new
business is in "our backyard." We would like involvement in, or at the very least, notification
of a written plan for a buffer zone so that this issue does not continue to be open-ended and
vague to surrounding residents. We understand that enforcement of buffer zones is the
responsibility of the city. We would like to see your commitment in doing so.
2. The amount of proposed new businesses (30) that Dave Holtom is trying to bring in, again,
very close to homeowners. Wes spoke with Dave Holtom about the new plan to subdivide,
possibly bringing in 30 new businesses around Valley Wide. He asked Dave if they had taken
our neighborhood into consideration in all of the planning. Dave commented, "we never even
thought about the neighborhood." This is evident.
3. Dave Holtom has stated many times that this is NOT a Truck Stop. However, when long-haul
semis, flat beds, bus motor homes, conversion vans, campers, RV's, school buses and other
assorted vehicles are continually staying overnight and sometimes many days & nights in a row,
we are reminded of the phrase in the movie, "Field of Dreams", ... "if you build it, they will
come." And they come, in all sizes and stay for as long as they please, again, "in our
backyards." Many times, their refrigerated motors can be heard running all night. Many of our
neighbors have no air-conditioning, so they leave windows open at night. There have been
complaints from the closest neighbors about hearing these "reefer" motors during all hours of
the night.
Another great concern with overnight truck/RV parking is that we have no idea who these people
are, their backgrounds, criminal records, etc_ They can conveniently monitor us & our homes
from their close vantage point to see who is and isn't home. Are our children safe anymore to
take evening walks with a friend or two? Are they safe to spend a night out in a tent in their own
backyard? We don't know if a convicted felon, a thief, a sex offender, etc. might be watching us
and our children from such a short distance away. Would any of you appreciate having
questionable people from all over the country spending nights this close to YOUR home?
We understood that last week, a man in an old school bus, towing an old van, was parked 3
nights just behind our homes, Again, last night, as my daughter and 1 arrived home after 11
P.M., he had returned for another overnighter. I called the police, because my daughter and I
were home alone and the vehicles looked very suspicious. An officer came and said that a man
from out-of-state was spending the night there. I asked the officer if overnight parking was
allowed at Valley Wide and he said, "As long as the owner gives them permission they can."
We would like to know if these people indeed have been given permission to stay overnight. If
so, how can this be prohibited to protect the nearby residents from an entire new set of potential
problems.
We would like someone on the City Council or the Mayor to respond to us with answers to these
questions.
Thank you for your consideration.
Wes & Marlena Belnap
1150 Widdison Lane
356-0198
wmbelnap@hotmaii. com
AW
COOPERATIVE
Rexburg City Council;
Planning and Zoning;
Residents of the Widdison Addition;
Re: Buffer Zone south of Valley Wide Home & Ranch.
Valley Wide Cooperative recognizes the need for a buffer on the south side of its
property at 1175 west main in Rexburg based on the rules set forth in the ordinances of
the city. That ordinance states that there should be a buffer of either a fence and/or trees
to separate commercial property from residential.
Several factors need to be considered before a final plan can be put into place.
1. I have investigated several if not all commercial/industrial properties in
Rexburg that border, in some fashion, residential zones to get an idea of
what may make an effective buffer or to get a few ideas from what others
have done. Few, if any, had any type of buffer zone established or
started. At best, I noticed either a chain link fence or shrubs. The
Comfort Inn has some conifers planted on the south side of the hotel at
about 15' spacing and 25' spacing on the east side. Here is what I found:
a. North side of Bakers trailer court — nothing
b. Walters Ready Mix — nothing
c. Utah Power — nothing
d. Zollinger Construction — nothing
e. Madison School District 321 bus station — old chain link fence
f. East side of the High School along football field — fence/canal
g. 90% of businesses along N 2nd E — nothing/chain link fence
h. Squires Brick — nothing
i. Bearing Sales —nothing
j. Malelluca on N 5th W — nothing
k. Anderson Lumber — nothing
1. Les Schwab — wood fence on south side
2. The canal height of 4-6 feet along the south side of the property makes it
almost prohibitive to construct a fence or at the least an effective fence
on either side of it. The Rexburg Canal Co. needs 10 —15 feet on each
side of the canal to operate their equipment if required. They will not�,'�
allow the planting of trees or the construction of a fence in this zone.
1� )� t 0-�
3. To expedite the growth of the buffer, hybrid Robusta Poplars would work
the best, however, they would provide little buffer in the winter. Spruce
trees would make an attractive buffer but are slow growing and
expensive, which is also of concern.
4. There is at least 250 ft. of open space and the raised canal banks that
currently act as a buffer between the developed property and any homes.
5. There will be a 20ft wide area of trees and grass planted on the south side
of the Home & Ranch store in the very near future. The reason this has
not been done yet is the south boundary of that area will be defined by
the access road that is marked out on the plat plan. Once this road is in
place, the green belt will be planted.
After consideration of the above, Valley Wide Coop proposes the following for the spring
of 2004;
To establish a buffer between the Widdison Addition and the property owned by
Valley Wide Coop to extend from the southwest corner of the coop property east 800 ft
and approximately 15' north of the canal edge. The buffer will consist of a combination
of hybrid Robusta Poplars spaced 20' apart and Colorado Spruce (4-5 ` tall) spaced
alternatively 40' apart. The Robust Poplars consistently show a growing rate of 5 — 6' per
year and will achieve a mature dimension of 30'wide and 40-50' tall. The Colorado
Spruce will grow at a rate of 1-2 ` per year and achieve a mature dimension of 15-20'
wide and 50-60'tall.
The combination of these types of trees as well as the current berm created by the
canal should make an effective buffer given a few years.
In addition, as sites are sold to the south and east of the current store, the
landowners will be required to construct a buffer of the same design.
I hope this proposal is deemed adequate by not only the city council but those in the
Widdison Addition as well. I feel that it more than meets the requirements of the city
ordinances and surely surpasses that which has been done by our commercial peers in
Rexburg.
Thank You,
David J. Holtom
General Manager
Valley Wide Cooperative