The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutP&Z Minutes 8.8.24(208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org Planning and Zoning Minutes - August 8, 2024 City Staff and Others: Alan Parkinson – P&Z Administrator Katie Jo Saurey – P&Z Administrative Assistant Kyle Baldwin – Planner 1 Natalie Powell – Compliance Officer Spencer Rammell – Commissioner Attorney Chairperson Smith opened the meeting at 6:30 PM. Planning & Zoning Meeting: 1. Welcome 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. ROLL CALL of Planning and Zoning Commissioners: Present: Vince Haley (Vice Chair), Randall Kempton, Sally Smith (Chairperson), Bruce Casper (late), McKay Francis, Vanessa Johnson, Rob Woodall, Brian Thackeray Absent: Todd Marx, Aaron Richards, Jim Lawrence 4. Approval of the P&Z Minutes for July 18, 2024 (Action) MOTION: Motion to approve the Planning & Zoning minutes as recorded for July 18, 2024 (Action) Action: Approve, Moved by McKay Francis, Seconded by Sally Smith. Commissioner Discussion on the Motion: None VOTE: Motion carried. (Summary: Yes = 5, No= 0, Abstain = 2). Yes: Vince Haley (Vice Chair), Sally Smith (Chairperson), McKay Francis, Rob Woodall, Brian Thackeray No: Abstain: Randall Kempton, Vanessa Johnson PUBLIC HEARINGS: MOTION: Motion to take from the table the Billboard and Fence Ordinance Amendment. Action: Approve, Moved by Randall Kempton Seconded by McKay Francis. Commissioner Discussion on the Motion: (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org VOTE: Motion carried. (Summary: Yes= 7, No= 0, Abstain = 0). Yes: Vince Haley (Vice Chair), Randall Kempton, Sally Smith (Chairperson), McKay Francis, Vanessa Johnson, Rob Woodall, Brian Thackeray No: Abstain: 5. Public Hearing – (23-00958) Fences, Billboards, RV Parks – Development Code Amendments – Proposed updates to the Development Code – Alan Parkinson (Action) Presentation: The Commissioners confirmed that they had all had a chance to review the proposed ordinance amendments. Bruce arrived at 6:36 pm. Alan reviewed the Billboard section of the proposed ordinance amendment and the group discussed how the proposal grandfathers current billboards to be repaired and replaced, but does not allow any new billboards. Vince asked about the date missing from the proposal. Alan confirmed the date would be the date the ordinance was passed. The review moved on to the Fence section of the proposed ordinance amendment. Alan summarized the administrative approval and sight triangle requirements. Vince inquired about barbed wire fencing only being allowed in TAG. Alan explained that the current code only allows for barbed wire fences in the TAG zone for agriculture use. Vince expressed his concern with allowing livestock in all low residential zones but not allowing barbed wire fencing to contain the livestock. Alan suggested that a different material could be used for the fence, such as wood, vinyl, smooth wire, metal, etc. Rob agreed with Vince, and stated he would like to see it changed. Alan cited aesthetics and children as a few reasons to not have barbed wire in residential neighborhoods. Alan moved on to the proposed clarifications regarding prohibiting gates from swinging over sidewalks for public protection, then to the sight triangle requirements. Tree requirements were discussed as new trees that are required in developments can pose a challenge in maintaining the sight triangle. The discussion circled back to allowing livestock in multiple zones, but only allowing barbed wire fences in TAG. Points were made including barbed wire fences not fitting in the city, barbed wire being designed for livestock, other types of fencing being more expensive, and the enforcement of fencing. Chairperson Smith opened the public input portion of the hearing at 7:04 pm. Favor: none (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org Neutral: none Opposed: none Written Correspondence: none Rebuttal: none Chairperson Smith closed the public input portion of the hearing at 7:05 pm. Conflict of Interest/Ex parte Conversation: Chairperson Smith asked the Commissioners to disclose any conflicts of interest or conversations held outside of this meeting relative to this particular subject. Commissioner Discussion: Randall touched on common sense and courtesy in ordinances and the more rules imposed, the more exceptions and loop holes people will find. He had no objections to what was presented and stated he would not object if the barbed wire language was removed. Vince inquired about the long term outlook of adjustments to the code. Alan responded that with people moving in, different situations, and new laws and rules to mitigate, code modifications will continue to be a full time job. Attorney Rammell added that as growth continues, in five to ten years, there will be conversations taking place that were never expected. Sally expressed her frustration with the lack of public involvement. Attorney Rammell summarized the previous animal conversations that resulted from a concern regarding 4H animals and how the barbed wire conversation is a result of that change. Rob agreed with Attorney Rammell that as the city grows, there will be conversations that are not anticipated and questioned if by discussing it now would prevent future issues with annexations. Alan replied that if the land is being used agriculturally when brought into the city, it would be grandfathered and allowed to continue. Attorney Rammell reminded the group to acknowledge the needs of those with concerns, but not to ignore the impact on the majority. Brian inquired about the fence review procedure and how it was implemented. Alan replied that every single fence company in the valley we could find was contacted and informed them of the new code. The group discussed the options for enforcement. Vince proposed allowing barbed wire in TAG, RR1 and RR2 to allow a way of taking care of pasture. The group discussed properties currently used for agriculture and how being grandfathered would allow them to continue being used agriculturally. Randall spoke to the tension between city and country and the growth he has experienced in Rexburg in the last 25 years. He explained that those who have been here for a long time don’t want their country ways taken away because the city needs a large population, but you can’t have a large population without rules, or it will end up a city that no one wants to live in. Alan stated he rarely sees barbed wire fences within the city. Vince amended his proposal, to include only TAG and RR1. Alan listed a few subdivisions zoned as RR1 as examples. Vince decided he was good with the way it was written. (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org MOTION: Motion to recommend City Council approve the new language in the fencing and billboards sections of the code as written. Action: Approve, Moved by Randall Kempton Seconded by McKay Francis. Commissioner Discussion on the Motion: VOTE: Motion carried. (Summary: Yes= all , No= , Abstain = ). Yes: Vince Haley (Vice Chair), Randall Kempton, Sally Smith (Chairperson), Bruce Casper, McKay Francis, Vanessa Johnson, Rob Woodall, Brian Thackeray No: Abstain: Heads Up: ▫ August 15th: Meeting moved to August 22nd, 2024 ▫ August 22nd: None 6. Adjourned at 7:25 PM.