HomeMy WebLinkAboutPost Hearing - Chad Richards LDR2 Zoning LetterDear Mr. Mayor and Members of the Rexburg City Council,
Thank you for your service in all that you do to preserve and advance the beautiful community
we all live in. I am writing this in regard to the land zoning change requested on the property South of
Hidden Valley subdivision. Yours is the difficult task of guiding the growth of Rexburg without knowing
the future. I have spoken with others who have served previously on the city council and have heard
tales (not a lot) of regret on certain things that were allowed to happen. I believe the zoning change
before the city council now is one of those pivotal issues that is significant enough it will be a source of
immense pride or immense regret down the road.
On its surface the zoning change request appears benign. Changing from a LDR1 zone to a LDR2
zone. Technically this change even matches with an adjacent LDR2 zoned neighborhood. This request
sounds logical until one looks at the totality of what was built in Hidden Valley. While zoned LDR2, not a
single unit is a duplex or twin home, there are CC&R’s that limit the size of the homes, all but three of
the lots qualify under the current LDR1 zoning standard (>12,000 sf). For all intents and purposes, this
subdivision meets the spirit of a LDR1. I am certain that for this reason our prior city leaders zoned the
subject parcel LDR1 to maintain the area character when it was annexed into the city so long ago.
There have been several arguments put forth by the P&Z that are inaccurate or overstatements
that should be clarified so as not to prejudice the decision being considered. I will enumerate some of
these below with the associated rebuttal.
1. P&Z comment: Twin Homes are what was built in Eaglewood subdivision and that is acceptable
for this area too. Rebuttal: It is true that a small LDR2 zone exists on the border of the 7th S. and
the Ridge apartments. The twin homes built here are on ¼ acre lots with 3500 sf homes. Most
of the homes within Hidden Valley have lots close to this size and home footages of this amount.
Lots of this similar size and homes of this footage could be done on an LDR1. It is safe to say
that the rezone request has NOTHING to do with building Eaglewood Twin homes here.
2. P&Z comment: Harvest Heights neighborhood has not commented on this proposed change at
all so it is safe they are ok with it. Rebuttal: The entire south portion of the Hidden Valley
neighborhood has close ties with those who live in Harvest Heights and based on our
conversations with them they are OPPOSED to the increased density zoning being requested.
Due to their location with respect to the subject property many were not copied on the rezone
request.
3. P&Z comment: LDR 1 allows for 3.6 lots / acre (12,000 sf/single family lot). LDR2 allows for 5.4
lots (8000 sq/single family lot.) The point was that this wasn’t much more dense than already
exists in Hidden Valley. Rebuttal: While this point is debatable, (we see a 33% reduction in lot
footage as significant), it is up to the city leaders to HOPE for the best but plan for the WORST.
In this instance, LDR2 allows for 5000 sf/lot with twin homes. This equates to 8.7 residences per
acre. That is nearly 2.5 residences where there is now 1. This is a far cry from being similar in
character and feel to Hidden Valley.
The attached document was taken from the Rexburg GIS website. The area inside the red border is
a matching scale cut & paste of twin home lots in Summerfield overlain on the proposed site. Each
of those grey homes within the red border represents TWO RESIDENCES. It is clear when viewing
this that the density potential being proposed is far more than anything else on this end of town.
The attached document also shows the neighboring subdivisions to emphasize that all of SE Rexburg
has been guided toward a LDR1 level of density. Typical city growth and planning sees density
decrease as one moves further from the city center. To create this LDR2 area that can only be
accessed by driving through so many LDR1 neighborhoods is not in keeping with typical growth
practices and changes the character of not only the neighborhood but this entire part of town.
In conclusion, it is a virtual certainty that keeping the LDR1 zoning on this land will ensure that
future growth here is in keeping with all surrounding development and something to be appreciated
and treasured going forward. Voting to change to LDR2 opens up the city and it residents to a
gamble that what gets built is something to be proud of or regretted. It isn’t worth the gamble.
Sincerely,
Chad Richards
Chad Richards
720 Centennial Loop
Rexburg Idaho