HomeMy WebLinkAboutProposed LDR3 Zoning Change Near 12th West - Sharee BartonSubject:
Questions Regarding Proposed LDR3 Zoning Change Near 12th West
Dear Mayor Merrill,
Once again, we find ourselves preparing to attend a Planning and Zoning meeting regarding the zoning of
property adjacent to our home. While we understand there are multiple perspectives on this request, we would
like to share several concerns related to safety, infrastructure, traffic, and consistency with the Comprehensive
Plan.
As we reviewed the December 17, 2025 City Council meeting, we appreciated the range of thoughtful
questions raised by Council Members:
Council Member Johnson emphasized public input, infrastructure readiness, and alignment with the
Comprehensive Plan.
Council Member E. Erickson raised concerns about the accuracy of comparisons and real-world outcomes
versus zoning assumptions.
Council Member C. Erickson expressed concern about maintaining the integrity of the Comprehensive Plan
and avoiding incremental erosion of its intent.
Council Member Riggins noted potential conflicts with the Comprehensive Plan and raised infrastructure and
traffic concerns, as well as the importance of fully hearing affected residents.
Council Member Reeser asked important clarifying questions to better understand the proposal.
Taken together, we understood these comments to reflect careful consideration of whether the proposed
zoning change aligns with adopted city planning principles.
In reviewing the same meeting, we noted several statements you made regarding housing types and traffic that
we would like to better understand in the context of planning decisions:
1. Housing appearance and zoning relevance
You stated that townhomes “look nicer than twin homes.” While aesthetic preference is subjective, we would
appreciate clarification on how visual preference is being weighed in zoning decisions and how it relates to
land-use standards and planning criteria.
2. Ownership vs. rental housing in townhomes
You suggested that townhomes are more often owner-occupied than rented. We have been unable to find local
data that isolates townhome occupancy by tenure in Rexburg; most available data combines all housing types.
City-data estimates indicate approximately 70–76% renter occupancy overall, with about 24–30%
owner-occupied housing. The most recent census estimate places the owner-occupied rate at about 23%. If
there is a specific dataset supporting this claim for townhomes, we would appreciate the opportunity to review
it, as accuracy is important in public policy discussions.
3. Traffic generation assumptions
Your comment, “We all know there is more traffic with single-resident homes,” left us with questions.
Transportation research from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) consistently shows that, on
average:
● Single-family detached homes generate about 10 trips per unit per day
● Townhomes/condos generate about 6.6 trips per unit per day
● Apartments generate about 4–5 trips per unit per day
These figures are generated from traffic impact studies across the United States, including large urban and
suburban contexts where many services are within walking or biking distance.
In a rural setting like the Steiner property on 12th West—where there are no walkable services, limited
connectivity, and residents must rely on vehicles for nearly all daily needs—actual trip behavior may be higher
than general averages regardless of housing type.
For example, a half-acre single-family property may generate about 10 trips per day. A half-acre zoned LDR3
has the capacity for approximately five homes at 6.6 trips per day each, equaling roughly 33 trips per day for
the same half acre.
We believe changing any of the 12th West property to LDR3 would increase density beyond what roads and
intersections on Main Street and University Boulevard can reasonably support.
Finally, we would like to return to a value our city promotes—“America’s Family Community.” Our
understanding is that this reflects priorities such as family-centered neighborhoods, community safety and
cohesion, long-term residential stability, and environments that support children and daily life.
In our view, these values are directly tied to how growth is planned in relation to infrastructure, traffic safety,
and neighborhood character. When density increases in areas without adequate access, walkability, or
roadway capacity, it can create conditions that conflict with those goals.
For that reason, we believe consistency with both these community values and the adopted Comprehensive
Plan is especially important when evaluating changes to the Steiner property.
Thank you for your time and for your service to the community. We appreciate your willingness to consider
resident input on this matter.
Sincerely,
Tyler and Sharee Barton
EXAMPLES of LOCAL TOWNHOMES AND TWINHOMES
Twin Home 651 Eaglewood Dr. Twin Home off So. 2nd East
Twin Home 2412 W. 800 S.
Townhome 600 Pioneer Rd
Meadows Townhome
Townhome Summerfield