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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z Work Meeting Notes 5.21.25(208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org Joint Work Meeting Notes - May 21, 2025 P&Z Commissioners: City Staff: Vince Haley (Vice Chair) McKay Francis Alan Parkinson – P&Z Administrator Randall Kempton Vanessa Johnson Katie Jo Saurey – P&Z Administrative Assistant Sally Smith (Chairperson) Brian Thackeray Kyle Baldwin – Planner 1 Aaron Richards Vern Muir Natalie Powell – Compliance Officer Jim Lawrence Dan Hanna Spencer Rammell – Commissioner Attorney Bruce Casper Tammy Geddes 5:30 pm Work Meeting: Proposed Development Code Amendments Planning and Zoning Administrator Parkinson opened the work meeting and explained that staff have identified some areas of the Development Code that need adjusted. Staff have proposed new wording and is looking for feedback from the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. He showed the zoning map on the screen, and gave the disclaimer that this code does not apply to the 12 blocks located downtown that are in the Form Based code. Administrator Parkinson reviewed that the amendments are broken into sections so that they can be voted on independently if necessary. He explained that that the red font is removing or moving language, green is adding or moving language, and black is the current code without changes. He indicated that the goal for staff was to consolidate and make it easier to find information. Councilmember E Erickson asked about the driving forces behind the amendments. Administrator Parkinson replied that some areas need updated to comply with fair housing, equity and discrimination laws. Mayor Merrill commented that the changes seem to simplify the code and make it less wordy. Administrator Parkinson confirmed that staff try to consolidate and make the information easy for the public to read and understand. Section 1: Accessory Setbacks Size restrictions were clarified. Section 2: Daycares Updated language to match state language, changed the deciding body from the P&Z Commission to City Council, added definitions, and updated parking requirements. Mayor Merrill commented that the less deciding bodies an application goes through, the simpler it is for citizens. Administrative Parkinson explained that if a change is significant, it should go before those responsible to constituents. The group discussed requirements around (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org caring for a specific number of children noting that the state regulates and complaints trigger enforcement. Parking requirements were discussed, with Councilmember Johnson and Councilmember C Erickson noting concerns with a lack of parking at current daycares and schools. Mayor Merrill disagreed, expressing that requiring additional parking would make having a daycare or school more difficult. The group asked staff to review the parking requirements for daycares. Discussion on parking requirements continued, citing the challenge of walking multiple young children along the street to enter a vehicle and schools having more than one teacher in a classroom. Office staff, student teachers, and paras were all noted as also requiring parking during the school day. Councilmember Reeser inquired about the number of BYU-I students who bring a car to attend school. Economic Development Director Johnson answered that BYU-I is figuring approximately 80% of students bring vehicles and they are looking at providing additional parking. The group asked staff to change a Family Home Daycare Conditional Use Permit to be Administratively approved rather than going before the P&Z Commission and City Council. Home occupation and home business restrictions were discussed. Section 3: Landscaping Mayor Merrill disagreed with removing cobble rock restrictions stating it would lead to people putting gravel everywhere which doesn’t add to the nature of the community. Several affirmed that they don’t mind rock landscaping, noting it would reduce water consumption. Commissioner Kempton pointed out that it seems misplaced as it is a prescriptive rule in the definition. Discussion touched on regulating landscaping on residential lots and the landscaping and maintenance of right-of-ways. The group asked staff to remove “design” from the maintenance clause. Options to avoid overhead powerlines and the clustering of landscaping on Highway 20 were discussed. The group asked staff to remove “low” from the shrubs requirement. Parking buffers were discussed, before moving on to reducing water consumption while maintaining the look. Mayor Merrill debated the balance of property rights, making people do things they don’t want to do and the effect not doing those things have on the neighbors. Administrator Parkinson suggested consulting with Legal about whether that would be handled better in the Municipal Code or the Development Code. Commissioner Hanna noted (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org that landscaping takes a lot of work and Councilmember Johnson added it is expensive and not everyone has the money to do it. Commissioner Kempton suggested providing low income housing so that those who cannot afford or have time for the landscaping have a place to live without worrying about it. Commissioner Smith stated that new developers are putting in front yards and including it in the price people pay. Section 5: Parking Administrator Parkinson explained that this section applies strictly to off street parking and street parking does not count towards the parking numbers. There were no concerns with adding visitor parking requirements to multi-family dwellings. The PED overlay still allows reduced parking to 75% in dormitories. Issues with parking near Porter Park were discussed, as was the removal of Elderly residences. Administrator Parkinson explained those would be recategorized into either single family residences, multi family residences, or assisted living. Restaurants, daycares, and school parking requirements were reviewed. Staff was asked to review school parking requirements to account for office staff and paras. The chart showing parking space sizes and drive aisle widths came from public works. Administrator Parkinson thanked everyone in attendance and confirmed that a second work meeting would be scheduled to finish reviewing the proposed Development Code amendments. Work Meeting Adjourned at 6:28 PM.