HomeMy WebLinkAboutDavid Ashby - 602 Cook St Deborah Lovejoy
From: David Ashby <davashby@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2026 12:09 PM
To: Deborah Lovejoy
Subject: Proposed Re-Zoning on 5th West
Date:Jan. 7, 2026
Re: Proposed Rezoning of 204 S. 5th West
Name: David Ashby
Address: 602 Cook St, Rexburg, ID 83440 (Henderson Subdivision)
Status: Directly Impacted Homeowner/ Biting Goats Mountain Bike Head Coach
Statement of Opposition
am writing to formally oppose the application to rezone 204 S. 5th West to high-density residential.As a
resident of the Henderson subdivision and a member of this community who works closely with local
youth, I believe this proposal is incompatible with the existing infrastructure and the safety of our
neighborhood's youngest residents.
1. Child Safety & Proximity to Kennedy Elementary
The proposed high-density development is located just a few hundred feet from Kennedy Elementary
School. This is not merely a traffic concern; it is a child safety issue.
• Conflict Points: High-density housing at this location will introduce a high volume of vehicle "trip
generations" exactly where families and elementary students walk and bike to school.
• Safe Routes to School:The 5th West corridor is a primary artery for student commuters.Adding a
high-turnover parking easement or high-occupancy driveway in this immediate vicinity creates
unpredictable traffic patterns that endanger children during peak school hours (8:00 AM and 3:00
PM).
2. Traffic Failure at 2nd South &5th West
The intersection of Park St/2nd South and 5th West is already at a breaking point.
• Operational Capacity: During school drop-off and student housing shift changes, this
intersection experiences significant stacking.Adding high-density housingjust south of this
junction will lead to "gridlock creep," forcing drivers into the residential side streets of the
Henderson and Park St. subdivisions to avoid the congestion.
• Request for Data: I formally request that the Committee require a site-specific Traffic Impact
Study(TIS) that specifically analyzes the "Level of Service" (LOS) during elementary school peak
hours before any zoning change is considered.
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3. Preservation of the "Neighborhood Anchor"
Rexburg's city plan emphasizes the need for diverse housing, but it also underscores the importance of
maintaining stable, single-family neighborhoods.
• The Henderson Buffer: Our subdivision serves as a critical buffer between the transient high-
density student housing to the east and the low-density residential heart of the city. Encroaching
on this buffer on the west side of 5th West removes the incentive for families to remain in the city
limits.
• Civic Impact:The families in this neighborhood are the primary volunteers for our schools,
churches, and youth sports. By over-saturating this specific pocket with high-density units, the
city risks "hollowing out" the permanent resident base that provides the social and tax stability
Rexburg relies on.
4. Conclusion
Growth should be directed toward areas where infrastructure and school safety are not compromised.
Rezoning 204 S. 5th West to high-density is a "spot zoning" move that creates a permanent safety hazard
for Kennedy Elementary students and degrades the quality of life for the Henderson subdivision.
I urge the Planning&Zoning Committee to recommend DENIAL of this rezoning application.
Respectfully,
David Ashby
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