HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&Z MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 1976H~BURO PLAA'NING BOARD
Sept~nber 9, 1976
iT Alice Tout Gal® Weber .
Wood Miller Jim Keller
Whitey Brock Leonard Longhurst
D~eetir~ began: 7:35 p.m.
Goxducting: Chairman, Whitey Brock
i~i,mites of August 10, 1976 were read and approved
BUS3~3 t
1. A letter froei the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce to the Rexburg Plazuiing Board was
read concernir~ the Chamber's stand on the growth and development of Rexburg which
im attached to these minutes.
2. Jia~ Keller reported his finclin$a from discussions with Joe Laird, Idaho Falls
City Enrzneer, and Rod Gilchrist, Bonn. Co. Council of Govt. Director, concerai~
the downtown business and par~dng development in Idaho Falls which could help
Rexburg in their development. Basically the money came from three Hain sources:
1. Govt. $ourses, 2. LiD or Revenue Bonds, 3. Local Business Groups or Associations.
3. ~Iarin~er Morrell and Dr. M.F. Rigby presented the same proposal they did on Aug.
10 for a Raxburt Mall project south of Hwy. 88 across Prom the Golf Course. They
emphasized that the main purpose fbr again coming before the Board was to request
that their land be zoned coBUnercial. They reviewed the past lack of interest in
their land as residential property which they feel was because the larx3 is in the
flight zone, next to a major hwy., near the City's settling porx3s, across from the
publ.ie golf course grxt Haar a proposed freeway just to the we at. They claim they
would be able to sell the land if it wag zoned commercial. They pointed out thpt
the ,~Rexbur$ Stake and Truscan Corp. wag still interested in some of that property.
Ch~airuian Brock expressed concern for the appearance of the downtown area in the
ttitture with sc> many vacancies occurring due to the large number of homes being de-
molished. He suggested that we are already top heavy with commercial property and
that it would be foolish to zone everything commercial. Rat her--why not develop-these
areas mw zoned commercial. Someone needs to organize these available lots arr~i
create a business area from them.
Pages 107-108 of the Comprehensive Plan was read recommending that the City resist
pressures for outlying ahogping centers which will compete directly with the central
doxutown area. of Re~cburg. Further, the Qomprehensive Flan's M,ap suggests Rigby's
and Morrell's property remain low density development property.
2~rrell arxi Rig~ry maintain that the malls will come so why not now? They feel their
mall. would draw people into the downtown area rather than pull them away; that they
are an extention of ruin Street.
1+. Jiia Hamilton also presented his I~7.1 proposal again for the Plorth Bide of Hwy 88
abd west of the golf course on approx. 25 or 30 acres. Again Chairman Brock stated
that there was plenty of room downtown already zoned commercial to develop. xamitton
argued that there was not the needed 20 acres together available at a price that a
person could afford to build on and then rent and break even. He also felt that
parkin; would always be a problem downtown since people like to park close enough to~
beable to see the store they plan to shop at.
the question wars raised about the city traffic patterns and congestion to ark from
• the ma11s and also if in fact the airport road was adequate as an access road as
Hamilton proposes. It was pointed out that the eadsting water main to said property
is rat adequate fora shopping mall.,,
5. Vern Anderson and Carl Su+dburrp, developer, presented a preliminary site layout
for an eaclosed shopping mall {11,0,000 sq. ft,) east of 2nd West and north of 7th
South (next to the proposed T3ational Guard Armory) on property already zoned commercial.
Their attention was drawn to the 1$~~ water main under the proposed buildings which
tiroul,d mt be allowed by the City. It was suggested they meet with Jerry Briar. arad
Bud Armstrong of the City's sewer and water department.
The access to the property was discussed. They proposed curving 2nd kiest to confor~
to the contour of the land. They are planning on the developmerit of 7th South in
their access plans. Problems of 18u water line .under proposed buildings, access
rnads, surface drainage and curving 2r~d West ways discussed. It was suggested that
Anderson get the comments arXi. recommerxia.tions of the street, water, and sure.: depart-
iaertts aryl even the armory people and come back to us.
6. Kezrt Jolley and Brian Burt presented the preliminary plat for Croat Haven
Subdivision located out 2nd East and west of property owners: Speth, Slough, Perks,
abd Manwaring. EYghty Pour lots are proposed and they would like to begin this
fa11. They would like the area annexed to the City and zoned R1 except Block ~+ which
they xant zoned R3 to permit town-houses.
The problem oP lack of rightofway for widening the road past Teton Villa was discussed
and also the need of a booster pump far city water use.
7. Jim Flamm of the Chamber of Commerce informed the Board that the A~iayor is r~~t
finalizing an application for urban renewal for dow~actown Rexburg for parking. The
Chamber claims +.,he possibility of 2000 new parking spots in downtown Ftiexburg.
A discussion ensued about forming a firm group to follox through on the parking
probleaut instead of persons coming anc'. going on the committee as has been the case
in the past.
8. The decision eras made by the Board to wait for Arrierson to submit the recca~nemda-
ticns Prom the street, departuierct on 2nd Went curving, water department on the 1$"
eater Line under proposed buildings, and the sewer department before we act further
on the Anderson proposal. ,
q. The Board unanimously felt we should comply with the Comprehensive Plan (pages
107 108 in pa-z•ticular) aril build up our downtown business core rather then allow
outlying shopping centers at this time. Jim Keller made the motion to declare a
moratorium on zoning ar~-more land commercial until l~Zey 1, 1y~7. to see what can be
developed downtown. Whitey Brock seconded that motion ark the Board unanimooaly
agreed.
10. The $oard further u.nanimoumly agreed to recommend to the City to annex the
proposed Crest Haven subdivision arad zone it Rl except Block 4 which the Board recom-
mended be zoned R2 rather than R3 as requested. R2 would rillow multi dwellings as
defined in the zoning ordinance, page 3 and the Board can see no reason to zone it
a3. This recommendation would be subject to an adequate sewer easement aryl right-of-
way to widen 2nd Ea at to said property.
The possibility of annexing 2nd Test south to Jolley~s property was discussed, mtizu
that there is not now a right of way to widen the road, as would be necessary.
13. Meeting adjourned 10 :50 p,rt..
THE REXBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
To the Rexburg Planning Board:
As Directors of the Chamber of Commerce we are favorable to new business
and growth for Rexburg. We would be glad to help those interested in
locating here with information about Rexburg. We try to keep on hand
in the_Chamber office, information conducive to new business.
For the past two years we have been working with the city on a parking
development on an L.I.D. program of one-half million dollars or more
for downtown Rexburg. This was delayed this summer by the flood, but
plans will go forward.
The Chamber would not be opposed to a ma1l~.if it were located in town.
There are several acres of land presently coned commercial that are
available for individual businesses or many large enough for a mall
of sufficient size justifiable for the upper valley trade area. We ;
are concerned with the looks of Rexburg after the houses, etc., are
demolished in the commercial zones. With buildings that are now or
being destroyed or available there is room in downtown Rexburg for
over 2000 parking spaces and 10-15 new stores that would be developed
as a mall or malls.
Promoters of aalls must be cautious of the "Phoney" census of Rexburg.
They must realize that the census includes nearly 4000 students that
are not native and even though they do make purchases they do not have
the purchasing impact of full time residents.
There-are, at the present time, two malls being completed in Rexburg
on West and East Main. They are not completely full yet, we understand.
The Chamber feels that they can support the businesses that come in
to being. We only urge you to move cautiously as it will bey; a real
tragedy to have more than can be financially sound.
Jim Flamm, President
Mark Tingey, Vice President
Directors: Clyde Anderson, Ray Loveland,
Virginia Zollinger, Rex Bennion, Fred Calder,
Jim Morris, Michael Kennedy
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