HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.05.2021 P&Z Minutes_exppdf
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City Staff and Others:
Alan Parkinson – P&Z Administrator
Tawnya Grover – P&Z Administrative Assistant
Kyle Baldwin – Planner 1
Natalie Powell – Compliance Officer
Spencer Rammell – Commissioner Attorney
Chairman Rory Kunz opened the meeting at 6:30 pm.
Roll Call of Planning and Zoning Commissioners:
Present: Chairman Rory Kunz, Greg Blacker, John Bowen, Vince Haley, Todd Marx, Sally Smith,
Bruce Casper.
Absent: David Pulsipher, Randall Kempton, Aaron Richards, Jim Lawrence.
Minutes:
Planning and Zoning meeting July 15, 2021 (action)
MOTION: Motion to approve the Planning & Zoning minutes for July 15, 2021, as recorded,
Action: Approve, Moved by Sally Smith, Seconded by Greg Blacker.
Commissioner Discussion on the Motion: None
VOTE: Motion passed (summary: Yes = 6, No = 0, Abstain = 1).
Yes: Bruce Casper, Chairman Rory Kunz, Greg Blacker, John Bowen, Sally Smith, Vince Haley.
Abstain: Todd Marx.
Commissioner Appreciation: Kristi Anderson - Served from May 7, 2017 – July 15, 2021 –
Impact Area Member Appointed by City – Mayor Merrill
Mayor Merrill is here to present an Appreciation Award to Kristi Anderson. He thanked Kristi for
serving on the Planning & Zoning Commission. He presented her a plaque that read:
“For dedicated service from May 7, 20217 to September 13, 2021. In recognition of significant
contributions to the betterment of the City of Rexburg.” She was recommended as a Commissioner
to the Mayor and she was one of his appointments to the Commission. He believes it is good to
have some male and female points of view on the application. Mayor Merrill appreciates Kristi’s
thoughtfulness and her desire to be fair to the developers and the citizens. He joked all she must do
is petition to have her neighborhood annexed and she could run for City Council.
Introduce new Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Bruce Casper – Mayor Merrill
We appreciate the fact you have been on the City Council before and have experience with
government affairs. Thank you for your willingness to serve.
35 North 1st East
Rexburg, ID 83440
Phone: 208.359.3020
Fax: 208.359.3022
www.rexburg.org
Planning & Zoning Minutes
August 5, 2021
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He said serving on the Commission is not an easy job. Sometimes there are uncomfortable
situations, but we appreciate those who are on the Commission. He thanked all the Commissioners
for their service.
Public Hearings:
1. 6:35PM – Mobile Food Court – (21-00475) – Development Code Amendment – Add
section for Mobile Food Court with additional definitions and necessary amendments to
current zones. (action) - Alan Parkinson
Applicant Presentation: – Alan Parkinson – Some modifications were made after the initial
review documents were submitted. After meeting with the public, there were some
concerns. Staff addressed those concerns and adjusted the code to address those concerns,
making the code more beneficial to the city and the community. Please ask questions, share
concerns, and ask questions.
The main goal of this code is to create more opportunities for food vendors. An
opportunity has been created for a place to cluster a bunch of food vendors. In addition,
there are opportunities for sidewalk and street vendors, as well as seasonal vendors. Sidewalk
and street vendors are set up each day and removed each day; they are temporary. Seasonal
vendors are on a single parcel for six (6) months. Once concern the public brought to us
was with seasonal vending. Initially, this option had been removed. Staff looked at this
option again and included them.
The Mobile Food Court code implementation begins with some definitions. Definitions
were clarified, so people could better understand. A hot dog stand that moves up and down
the sidewalk would be considered a sidewalk vendor. Mobile vending vehicles are like a taco
bus or van. Mobile vending trailers are pulled behind a vehicle.
Vending locations have been identified for street vendors in parallel parking spaces. There
will be a map placed in this code showing where street vending can occur. Those vendors
will have to be able to vend towards the sidewalk.
Seasonal vendors are those who are vending anywhere from fourteen (14) days to one
hundred eighty (180) days.
Food court vendors inside an established Mobile Food Court is what is being added to the
code today. This will establish a place where a place is set up with setbacks, sidewalks, sewer
and water hook-ups, access to the street, landscaping, creating a fully developed lot. Then, a
food vendor can contract with them and be there from a few days to year-round. A food
vendor can contract with a mobile food court owner. One of the initial questions when
developing this code, was how do you overcome Impact Fees that a brick-and-mortar
business has to pay. A food vendor court will have to get a license and the vendors
themselves will have to get their own license. The fees will be determined by the City’s
Master Fee List.
Next, the implementation of the Mobile Food Court shows zoning tables where this use
would be allowed. Mixed Use, Community Business Center, Central Business District,
Regional Business Center, Light Industrial, Public Facilities, and University District are
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zones that will allow Mobile Food Courts with a Conditional Use Permit. If the University
wants to have an event where they want to bring in mobile vendors, we are going to allow
that to happen if they build the Mobile Food Court.
Food court area requirements come next. A lot of these requirements are consistent with
those of brick-and-mortar businesses. Some of the requirements will be dependent on the
zoning in which it is placed like setbacks, screening adjacent to residential, lighting, etc.
Sidewalk connectivity will be required to be able to travel from a public sidewalk to the
vending locations. People ordering from the vendor will be standing on a hard surface.
There are some landscaping requirements with a 10% minimum in the existing zones will
have to be met. Parking will need to be addressed. For each mobile vendor, three (3)
parking spaces are required. Water, sewer, and grease will have to meet the city’s
Engineering Standards. Density is limited to fifteen (15) mobile vending carts/acre.
Permanent bathroom facilities or within 300’ there is an agreement with the landowner to
use a brick-and-mortar bathroom. The bathroom stall requirement is a minimum of one (1)
and an additional bathroom for every five (5) vendors. Parking also has to be located within
300’. Chairman Kunz clarified seasonal vendor bathrooms is one per three (3) vendors.
Commissioner Questions: Chairman Kunz asked about the time limitations for vendors.
Alan said in a mobile food court, the vendor time frame of unlimited is not specifically
stated. As written, the seasonal vendors are defined with a requirement to move to a
different parcel every six months, which is currently in place, or they must shut down for the
year. Greg said when people come in to apply, is the Health Department inspection part of
the permit. Alan answered the mobile vendor vehicle must meet certain requirements for
this code and the Health Department will have additional requirements if serving food that
will be shown before a business license will be issued. The trailer or unit will have to be self-
contained. Alan said only natural gas will be allowed as a cooking fuel or for running a
generator. In the food court, we are proposing electricity be installed and water and sewer
connections. Greg confirmed no charcoal will be allowed for cooking. Alan answered this
is for fire safety. Cooking facilities outside of the trailer requires more area around the trailer
you are trying to protect the public from to keep them from getting burned. John said he
has not completely read this code. He asked about the established food vendors scattered
around town; how do they go about following this code. Alan answered those mobile food
vendors that are existing are seasonal and will have to comply with a few of the
requirements. The vendors may have to bring in port-a-potties or work out an agreement
with a brick-and-mortar business to meet the bathroom requirements or put in a hard
surface for customers to stand on, for example, but the vendors can stay where they are.
After six (6) months, they would have to move to a different parcel or shut down. John
confirmed now there will be an option to bring the vendors together to a closer location in a
Mobile Food Court.
Greg asked if we have had problems and that is what spurred this ordinance. Alan said we
have had some brick-and-mortar businesses that had problems with the mobile vendors.
Complaints were brought to the City Council and the Mayor. The Council and Mayor
brought the situation to Staff to find solutions. Concerns included bathroom facility use,
supplies, impact fees, and taxes. Impact Fees for brick and mortar were paid once, but the
mobile vendor fee will have to be paid each year. The bathroom requirements will allow
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facilities onsite to prevent customers to have to go somewhere else. Greg asked if there are
violations, is there a three strikes you are out policy? Alan answered the mobile vendor will
have to close if they are in violation until they come into compliance. Code Enforcement
will monitor the mobile vendors.
Vince asked if in the code for Mobile Food Court will require a lot from the applicant.
What will prevent several trailers combing together and creating their own court without
meeting these requirements? Alan said as long as the requirements for a seasonal vendor are
met, this would be allowed. Vince said it seems like it would be much easier to be a seasonal
vendor, then to put in the extra work of creating a food court. Chairman Kunz said if you
wanted to be a year-round vendor, you would rent a space in a mobile food court facility.
Vince is suggesting language that limits the number of trailers that can be located together to
two or three before you are designated as a food court. Alan noted the original proposal
contained no seasonal vendors; a vendor either worked with a Mobile Food Court or you
worked out an agreement with an established business. The group realized a lot of these
vendors are seasonal and only operate part of the year and they want to close. Vince’s
concern is if twenty (20) trailers can get together and meet all the other requirements during
the summertime, they are pretty much a court. Alan responded the situation will be
monitored; this is the city’s best effort at this point. Vince is in favor of the situation right
now; he does not want to force the current mobile vendors into a Mobile Food Court. The
consensus was Staff feels we have a decent balance with all interested parties.
John confirmed the mobile food courts are a private enterprise. Alan said he has several
proposals brought to him. Bruce has a problem with the definition of “food court” that is
defined as a “facility inside a shopping mall for fast food outlets where tables and chairs are located,” on
his phone. Chairman Kunz asked for the definition for Mobile Food Court in the
proposed ordinance. He said it is not as important what everyone else defines the term as,
but it is important what the words are defined as within the document. Alan read the
definition from the ordinance that says, “Mobile Food Court: An area that consists of three (3) or
more vendors at a permanent site in an open-air location with designated stalls or areas.” Vince said if I
only have two (2) contracted mobile vendors, do I have to recruit a third vendor? Alan said
all you would have to do is build the third site. You would have to have the capacity for
three (3) or more vendors. Maybe the clarification for the “availability” of three or more
vending “sites” be added to the mobile food court definition. Vince clarified the trailers
must be in an “open-air location.” Alan said for ventilation with mobile food trailers must
be outside.
Greg asked if Alan has talked to the current seasonal vendors. Alan said Staff talked to
several seasonal mobile vendors and they are mostly comfortable with this ordinance. The
person, who brought some of the original complaints, is no longer a business-owner in
Rexburg. No one else has had the same complaints. One of the key points Alan said is you
cannot park within fifty (50’) feet of a brick-and-mortar business selling the same item.
Permission would have to be received from that brick-and-mortar business. The reason for
this rule was to keep vendors from parking in front of a business of the same type, so as not
to block their presence or line of sight. Greg asked if other cities have had similar problems
and what have they done. Alan answered other cities have had similar issues. Initially,
mobile vendors brought in an ordinance from Logan, Utah. In Utah, they can tax sales, but
we cannot do this in Idaho. Logan’s ordinance required mobile vendors work with
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established businesses to share parking and restroom facilities. Staff felt, for Rexburg, there
needed to be more flexibility.
Chairman opened the public input portion of the hearing at 7:06PM.
Favor: None
Neutral:
Jessica Mortensen – 210 Nez Perce – (Business) 328 N 2nd E – She is a local, seasonal
vendor. She feels comfortable with the ordinance as it stands now. This ordinance provides
businesses an opportunity to grow to be viable. The previous draft would have shut her
business down. There are a few things she has concerns about. She feels if you are going to
be a seasonal business and you shut down for the season, she believes you should have to
move off of that parcel. It does not add anything to our community to have closed vending
trailers sitting on properties; this is part of the owner’s responsibility as a seasonal business.
There are some things she feels that need to be enforced better, like where they are dumping
their waste. We need to maintain a higher standard of care for our community. Some
vendors are not dumping in appropriate places. The City needs to know where the waste is
being dumped and be comfortable with that location. The cleanliness of our locations and
properties could be encouraged and required. With the Compliance Officers this can be
addressed.
There will be a time the property I am on will sell. The Mobile Food Court option may be
best for her business. There may not be many properties that will allow me to have the
parking to sustain my business. It is difficult to convince private property owners to allow
you to allow your trailer on their property. Because she is established, Jessica has been
approached by businesses for possible agreements. Until the property Jessica is on sells, she
would like to stay where she is for visibility. She feels comfortable with this ordinance.
Commissioner Greg Blacker asked if dumping public waste is a Public Health Department
compliance issue or a City regulation issue. Jessica believes this is the responsibility of both
entities. The Public Health Department is more stringent than the City is. The City is the
one that is processing the waste. If they are telling the Public Health Department where
they are dumping, they are taking them for their word. She has witnessed dumping in the
storm drains which impacts the treatment. Jessica has a grease receptor, and her business is
low risk, because most of her waste is gray water. She has the grease receptor for cream.
Some car washes will allow you to dump that waste with a fee. A cleanliness level is
required. At any moment you can see into her kitchen. Some trailers are probably cleaner
than restaurants you eat at, due to the visibility. They are doing a lot of things right. We can
do some things better. Greg asked if the Public Health Department comes once a season or
more often. Jessica answered there is a typical once-a-season inspection. They will come
back if they have any complaints or if they are concerned with your compliance.
Dave Thomson – 634 S 7th W – He is neutral because there is a lot of good coming with
this ordinance change. He appreciates the Commissioners’ service. He is speaking in the
neutral category, instead of the for or against, because having been in a Commission, he has
learned to look at the broader picture and the future potential that this ordinance will
become. He is concerned with the proposal, and what was said tonight. There are a few
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things that have been stated as factual, that are not factual. Dave is trying to facilitate a
better resolution. This ordinance can make things fair and equitable. Jessica and he are
good friends and they have tried to get the mobile food vendors to come up to a standard
on their own, but some have not been agreeable.
The definitions at first were limiting, but in this new draft those definitions have improved.
There are still a few vendors allowed in other areas of the country, who could fall under
several definitions in the vendors’ best interests. These definitions could be fine-tuned.
He has some comments about the requirements seem to be good ideas, but in looking at
other regulatory agencies, the food vendor would end up in violation of one or multiple
agencies. In these situations, the language needs to more exacting. Some concerns are
regulatory issues required by other regulatory agencies as external but are required to be
internal by this code. Dave realizes this is for safety. An example would be it was noted
tonight “All food vendors would need to hook up to natural gas.” Natural gas is at a higher psi and
different regulations and tanks are required, licensing, and transportation. He does not
know if this is a misquote and it was meant to be “propane”. Natural gas could create an
opportunity for a larger explosion.
It was also mentioned, this situation came about from conflict with brick-and-mortar
businesses. He operated a group of mobile vendors, which was targeted by a brick-and-
mortar business. The business owner did not understand was a camera for the entire season
in place, recording the interactions. The video footage showed some of those factual stated
things, were not actually factual at all. Dave agrees with the bathroom ideas. The distancing
methodology could be adjusted to make it more beneficial for the community. There are a
lot of problems the city is working through that equate to law that the businesses will have
to comply with. Permits for like product vending proximity could be considered a “taking”.
Chairman Kunz clarified the Zoning Administrator said this is to prevent line of sight
blockage. Dave said this measurement could be an interpretational difference like from
front door, any door, from signage, from their lot, from public right-of-way. The language
could be fleshed out to be clearer.
If the Commission would like to move forward in a more expeditious way, there could be a
joint meeting with the mobile vendors. Most of vendors would like to come in and talk to
City Staff. They have been told they can come in and speak to Staff. Understanding the
Health Department Code would be important. Chairman Kunz asked for a specific
example where the current code would violate another entities’ coding requirement. Dave
said some states require the generators be placed away from the mobile trailer and not be
attached to the vehicle. The city’s code requires generators be attached to the vending
trailer. Exhaust from those generators was measured in various wind conditions. He
recommends before the Commission acts on this Mobile Food Court ordinance, all the
vendors would like to meet with the City Staff. Dave would like to have all the details in
place prior to recommendation to City Council.
Opposed: None
Written Correspondence: None
Chairman asked if anyone else would like to speak. He closed the public input portion
of the hearing at 7:26PM.
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Rebuttal: Chairman Kunz does not typically allow the City to rebut. He asked Alan
Parkinson to come up to clarify a few things. Alan said he misspoke on the natural gas; it is
propane required on the mobile trailers. In a Mobile Food Court, if a hard connect is
wanted, they can hook up to natural gas. On the trailers, propane is expected, like a camper.
When it comes to cleanliness, we are requiring the places are kept clean. The City is
requiring the mobile trailers to identify where the waste will be dumped. As far as
contradicting, the Building Department Administrator was pulled in to address those types
of regulations. Trailers are regulated under another code, not building code. Generators
were considered standard within the trailer to be contained to reduce noise, safety, and trailer
conflicts. One meeting was held for Staff and the public to come in and talk about mobile
vending. Staff is not opposed to speaking to the public. Staff felt they talked to many of the
mobile vendors. Parts of the code were identified as concerns and Staff felt those concerns
were addressed.
Vince asked if another meeting with mobile vendors would be beneficial. Why would a
seasonal vendor be allowed to leave a trailer while it is closed for the season? Alan said this
is private property and the City has no authority to regulate unless a business is being
conducted under a license. These trailers need to be able to move within 24-hours. Vince
confirmed the seasonal vendor definition allows a mobile vendor to stay on the same parcel
for 180 days. Alan gave one example, on 5th S, the bus does not have to move very far. He
owns two parcels next to each other, and he just relocates a few feet, to meet the
requirements of the code. John said many things brought up tonight are good, but he would
like to see the proposal have a little more time to improve the code. Alan said this is the
public meeting for the public to come in and share their concerns. Staff felt they had
enough information to move forward on this ordinance. It never hurts to have input, but
you can input yourself to death. Sally said this is a public hearing and there are not many
people here. She does not know if there would be much more attendance if another meeting
was held. Advice has been taken from some of the city’s successful vendors. Alan said
there may have to be modifications down the road. Vince asked the Chairman when this
code would go in to affect. It seems we are well into the season for these seasonal vendors.
He wonders if it would be best to make these changes effective immediately or on January 1,
2022. He believes we have tried to establish some good changes. Chairman Kunz says this
could be part of the recommendation to City Council. Greg agrees having the time to
January 1st would allow any potential changes to be addressed.
Conflict of Interest? – Chairman 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.
Commissioner Discussion: None
MOTION: Recommend City Council pass the Mobile Food Court ordinance as written,
because we need some regulations for these vendors, and this is the best solution at this
point. It is recommended these regulations be effective January 1, 2022, Action: Approve,
Moved by Greg Blacker, Seconded by Todd Marx.
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Commissioner Discussion on the Motion: Vince confirmed some of these wording
changes will be part of the recommendation as noted in the minutes.
VOTE: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 7).
Yes: Bruce Casper, Chairman Rory Kunz, Greg Blacker, John Bowen, Sally Smith, Todd
Marx, Vince Haley.
Tabled Items:
1. (21-00377) 525 E 7th N Parcel #RPR6N40E176600 – Rezone from Low-Density
Residential 2 (LDR2) to Low-Density Residential 3 (LDR3). A previous rezone
request (21-00063) of Medium-Density Residential 1 (MDR1) for this property was tabled
April 7, 2021 and denied on May 5, 2021. There is an issue with a water ditch in this area.
(action) – Jeff Freiberg
The Applicant has requested this item remain tabled. Chairman Kunz said the City has
implemented a notice for all land use changes, both digital and paper, to all the irrigation
boards affected by any potential development in any of the associated areas. Attorney
Rammell said this is being done out of an abundance of caution, and not because they are
being legally bound to do so. Chairman Kunz said as the lawyers have interpreted the
code, they feel the City had met the state statute as it is written. Legal has identified the City
has been following the city statute as it has been interpreted.
Reuben Miller confronted the Commission with the need to speak for the tabled item. Chairman
Kunz identified there is no public hearing, so there is nothing to comment on at this point.
Reuben wants to know who he is litigating. The Commission does not know the answer for
Reuben. Chairman Kunz said the City Council has time at each meeting to share comments about
items not on the agenda or on past items. The meeting tonight is for the Commission to make
decisions regarding zoning, conditional uses, and proposed use areas. The Commission deals with
items that come per public hearing. The City Council is more involved in the day-to-day decisions
of the City. Chairman Kunz deferred to legal council regarding the procedures for this situation.
When the item comes off the table, public input will be heard. Attorney Rammell explained to
Reuben the Planning & Zoning Commission is not a governing board like the City Council is, and as
such, they have some legal procedures that are different. Reuben asked how he would know when
the item will come off the table. Reuben stated he has brought to the group a knowledge of the
state statute and his opinion on the city’s adherence to the statute. Attorney Rammell said we can
litigate the state statute, but that is not going to happen here tonight. Reuben is looking for an
avenue tonight to be heard to share his facts. He wished to be notified when the item comes off the
table. He wants the board to vote on the tabled item and move it on to City Council. Attorney
Rammell said there is a distinction between being heard and having the board vote on an item. To
take the request up tonight, would procedurally violate the law. Members of the Commission do
not show up and decide what they are going to take up. They must address items that are delegated
to them by the governing board. Vince confirmed Reuben can call the City to find out if the agenda
item is ready to be discussed. Alan clarified the item will a public hearing item on the agenda, but
another notification will not be mailed. The Applicant is working on the water resolution with the
canal board and the landowners. Initially, there was a verbal agreement, but they are working on a
written agreement. Attorney Rammell said the tabled item will not be brought up tonight.
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Commissioner Training: Attorney Spencer Rammell –
• Role of the Comprehensive Plan – What role does the Comprehensive Plan have in a
zone change? What happens if a decision does not conform to the Comprehensive Plan?
He read something in case law today to look at the Comprehensive Plan like a Constitution. “It
governs and informs but is not ultimately controlling.” Evans v. Teton Cty., 139 Idaho 71, 76, 73 P.3d 84, 89
(2003): “To the professional planner, the defendants of zoning upon planning is relatively simple, the City Master
Plan is long-term and the City’s Comprehensive Plan is a long-term general outline or projection of future development,
zoning is but one of the many tools, which may be used to implement the Plan. Warnings have constantly emanated to
the planner – the two must not … Instead of being itself, the Comprehensive Plan is often mistaken; zoning is one of
the devices giving it affect.” Mr. Oakey said why do we need to have the Comprehensive Plan when we
accomplish all the things through zoning. The Comprehensive Plan is not controlling; it is in
accordance with the zoning.
What if an application does not adhere to Comprehensive Plan? Can we still pass the request? In a
recent case Roark v. City of Hailey, 102 Idaho 511, 633 P.2d 576 (1981), Hailey, Idaho, had a case
based on their Comprehensive Plan. Their Plan said a zoning could only happen near the city center,
then rezoned something on the outskirts of town, but they articulated, a well-thought-out reason they
thought it was appropriate. The core determined, “The outskirts of town was deemed close enough
to the core of the town.” If you want to make decisions, go back to a clear, factually dense reason
for doing what you are doing to support your decision that you are making. The statute requires
approval and denial be accompanied by a reasoned statement. If we make a motion, the Commission
needs to encompass points the body has talked about before to support the decision. Tawnya said
as part of an application, the Applicant is required to go the Comprehensive Plan goals and
objectives to find one that will support their request.
• Delegation. If I want to build a big apartment building, what are some of the departments
I am going to have to meet with? There is a distinction between a governing board and the
Commission. Alan, what are some requirements you will have to work worth? Alan said
the process begins with the Ready Team. The Applicant comes in with a conceptual
drawing showing what they want to do in Rexburg. The Building Department, Public
Works, Legal, Economic Development, and Planning. The purpose of that meeting is to aid
the applicant in avoiding potential bumps in the road by sharing with the Applicant items
they need to be aware of. Attorney Rammell asked where the departments in this group
receive their authority? Alan answered these departments receive their assignments from
the Mayor and City Council. Attorney Rammell said City Council delegates to these
departments to make sure the setbacks, landscaping, etc. are put in. The reason the P&Z
Commission is limited, is how the Mayor and City Council has designated as a body. These
assignments are delegated by code. In some of the smaller towns, the Commission has more
assignments, but we have departments in our city to focus on those things. Sometimes a line
of code is taken out of context like 67-6511 regarding the zone change application and its
evaluation shall give “particular consideration shall be given to the effects of any proposed zone change
upon the delivery of services by any political subdivision providing public services, including school districts,
with the planning jurisdiction.” The court has not told us what “delivery of services” means. One
can read the Planning & Zoning must address the delivery of these services. In a recent case
Rouwenhorst v. Gem Cty., 168 Idaho 657, 485 P.3d 153 (2021), the court discusses the
consideration given to services in a zone change. In the 2021 edition of the “Land Use
Handbook” published by Givens Pursely, page 49 reminds us the language of the statute
states “shall, not must.” The City Staff and City Council looks at those things, so the
Planning & Zoning Commission does not need to. The City has no power over school
districts. The governing body does not have that power either.
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Vince said in the last meeting, he asked, do we need to worry about water rights. The
answer is “no”. When those items come up, do we need to address the water rights? Alan
said water, sewer, and water rights have nothing to do with a zoning. This is something we
would address at time of a Plat. At this point, the water and sewer will be determined by
Public Works. Attorney Rammell said we do not have the authority to stop one project on
a parcel, because of a problem with another parcel, even if they have the same owner.
People can threaten lawsuits, but this is the reason we pay for ICRMP. Chairman Kunz
said there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding this specific project on the table. Attorney
Rammell said you can be patient and try to understand, or you can jump to corruption.
This is not the case; we are just not on the same page.
• Conditional Use Permits. There is some leeway with Conditional Use Permits, because we
can add provisions and talk about a broader range of things. City Staff sets those conditions
because this is designated to them by the governing board.
• Changing an Application’s Request within a Public Hearing. This is a blind spot with
the courts and code, is when you materially change something that has been proposed.
Does this reset your public notice requirement? His concern is if the request is changed,
some people may come to submit public input when they otherwise would have not.
Speaking with Staff and legal and establishing some consistency is important. This is not
governed by case law. The Commission is still an advisory board. Examples of substantive
vs. non-substantive changes were discussed.
• Hearsay. Generalizations. It is easy to make bold assertions, but when pushed on
specifics, no examples are usually presented. Vince said in past meetings this person said
this, and this was accepted as fact, come to find out this was not said. Attorney Rammell
said there is a reason there is such a thing as hearsay. The person who says it needs to be
present to dispute his words or meaning. Chairman Kunz says the Commission is often
misquoted to City Council.
• Reasoning. Vince clarified our reasoning needs to be specific. Attorney Rammell said
referencing the discussion and highlighting certain areas is appropriate. Tawnya said it is up
to interpretation if the group in their motion states the reason “based on our previous
discussion.” If the Commissioners are specific about making their decision because we are
concerned about the traffic, the Comprehensive Plan supports this, and this is the reason we
are making the decision. This is a kind of a short, summary statement.
• Zones prohibited within the Comprehensive Plan. Vince clarified the Comprehensive
Plan Map change needs to be approved prior to a change to a zone not otherwise allowed.
Chairman Kunz has yet to see Staff bring a zone change without the Comprehensive Plan
request either being in place or accompanying the zone request. Alan said when a
Comprehensive Plan Map change and a Rezone come on the same agenda for the same
parcels, the Applicant has been warned that if one application fails, they both fail. Due to a
time crunch, sometimes the Applicant wants to take the risk.
Bruce, online there are some good cheat sheets that talk about short-hand items for the zoning.
Heads Up:
Public Hearings: August 19th (21-00543) Form-Based Code – Development Code Amendment
Adjournment 8:28PM