HomeMy WebLinkAboutFOF - 91-00015 - Buena Vista ApartmentsFindings of Fact
City of Rexburg
12 North Center - Phone: 208.359.3020
Rexburg, ID 83440 www.rexburg.org Fax., 208.359.3022
Buena Vista Apartments
406 South 3`a East
CITY OF
REXBURG
CW
America§ Family Community
1. On August 28, 1991, The Planning & Zoning Commission for the City of Rexburg discussed the
parking that was put in at the Buena Vista Apartments at 406 South 3`d East. From the minutes:
"They only had two parking spots two deep for off street parking. The new owners have put
the front lawn into parking. The neighbors across the street are threatening to sue if the city
doesn't make them comply with the ordinance and take it out. The property owner says he will
sue if we make him take it out... Rose explained that we have a parking committee who has
checked out parking for college housing. Buena Vista has been renting to 18 students for a long
time with two parking places... John asked for a recommendation for Buena Vista parking. A
motion was made by Mary Ann Mounts to recommend that they not be able to rent to that
many people and that they have to tear out some of the parking in the front yard and be in
compliance with the ordinance and that it be turned over to,the city council for further
recommendation. Seconded by Jim Long. All Aye."
2. On September 4, 1991, City Council discussed the parking problems at Buena Vista Apartments.
From the minutes: "The mayor explained it has been used for student housing for years. This
year the parking committee told them he had to put more parking in for the students to comply
with the parking regulations. The previous owner was Chuck Frost, he had a plan for parking to
be put in. The parking could not be put in legally even with that plan. The neighbor says he will
sue us if we don't make him change the parking, the neighbor is also not legal with the paving in
his front yard...
Larry [Cummings, owner of property] said it was his understanding that the parking he put in
was okay. Don Hammer said he had talked to the mayor, who okayed it. The mayor said he
told Don he had preliminary approved the plan Chuck had. The girls in the apartment last year
said they had six cars parked in the driveway and had to shuffle cars to get out. With the plan
Chuck had he would only pick up one more parking spot. He had put the parking in the only
place he could put it... The sidewalk already had the low curb on it to allow for the parking and
the curb and gutter wasn't altered at all...
The mayor said the. new parking is adequate, but not legal according to our ordinance. He had
talked to Chuck Frost and thought Mr. Cummings was putting in the parking according to the
plan Chuck had drawn. He would have still been in the set back off of 4' South. Glen Bean
had gone up and told Mr. Hammer he could not put it in that way, but he went ahead and did it
anyway...
Larry questioned if the city says he has to have adequate parking but won't let him put it in the
way he had room, what should he do. He needed parking for five or six cars plus his three cars.
Nyle Fullmer told him we need to live by the law and you need to take in to account how many
student you would rent to. Larry said he would have 16 students. Nyle said if we do let you go
ahead with the parking this year, you will have to correct it next year...
Jim Long stated that Helen Young came to Planning & zoning and had the same situation and
they required her to change the parking and she said she would. She will make contracts
requiring the students not to bring cars...
Nyle Fullmer suggested that we table it for the next meeting. He told Mr. Cummings that he
was obligated by the law to obey the ordinance on the parking, but the council would try to
work with him. Glen Pond told him it wasn't easy for the council to tell him he can't put the
parking in that way, but we are bound by the city ordinances. Jim Long suggested that he
contact the apartment owner behind him and see if he could rent parking from them.
A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Darlene Petersen to table the parking
issue for the next meeting in two weeks. All Aye
The mayor suggested that the council go as a group and look at the parking.
3. On August 18, 1991, City Council again discussed the parking problems at Buena Vista
Apartments. From the minutes: "The mayor showed the council of the drawing that was given
to Larry before he purchased the property. The drawing was illegal and did not meet
requirements. You have a grandfathered apartment on a lot that is too small. When we went to
enforce the parking we had the problem of the parking lot. The plan given to Larry was worse
than what Larry has come up with. Larry's way seemed more logical and was a better approach
to the problem but was still not in compliance. He meets the requirement for parking, but he is
in the set back on the street. Glen Bean told him it was illegal either way he did it. Nyle Fullmer
moved we give him a special use permit. The motion was seconded by Farrell Young. Aye:
Farrell Young, Brad Liljenquist, Darlene Petersen, Nyle Fullmer, Bruce Sutherland. Nay: Glen
Pond.
4. During the first several months of 2006, numerous discussions were held between the owners of
Buena Vista Apartments, prospective buyers of the property, and City Staff. Based upon the
foregoing research and findings, the existing hard surface being used by Buena Vista was
deemed to be grandfathered as nine (9) non -conforming allowed parking spaces. The number
of students was found to be grandfathered at 16 plus management.