HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992.07.21 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES/a,
State of Idaho)
County of Madison( ss
City of Rexburg)
Present were: Mayor:
Councilman:
Excused:
Special Meeting
Crest Haven Subdivision
July 21, 1992
7:00 P. M.
Nile Boyle
Jim Flamm
Farrell Young
Glen Pond
Brad Liljenquist
Nyle Fullmer
Bruce Sutherland
City Clerk: Rose Bagley
Attorney: J. D. Hancock
The mayor stated that this is an information meeting only.
Pledge to the flag.
John Millar told the group he had looked at two different options and
showed a plan and explained it. One was to pick up the flow on the
first two streets, Westwood and Hillview and that estimate was about
$29,000. To pick up three streets - Westwood, Hillview and Vista - it
would be $40,000. It breaks down with 79 lots to $370 additional per
lot for two streets and $506 additional per lot which would pick up all
the streets drainage.
David Pincock- Westwood Drive - We had a community meeting Sunday
afternoon and discussed the proposal. They wanted to see the design
first. They had taken a vote and it was felt that they wanted all of
it put in. Everyone in the subdivision was contacted. They were not
able to contact Crofts. 27 homeowners out of 79 came to the meeting
and were in favor. The person holding the majority of the lots was not
there. The people felt they wanted it done all at once. They also
wanted to request that the city participate as they did before at 50~
participation. There were some safety concerns on how the grading
would be put in. John Millar said it would be similar to the one by
Ladles. Lonnie West thought the drain should be up higher than the
engineer had drawn on the plan. Mr Pincock said Grooms said they would
not like it in front of their house. The people assumed that if this
plan is accepted that the holes in the street would be repaired until
the entire street is repaired.
The mayor stated that the option we have is if every homeowner would
sign a waiver we could hook onto this LID and go with it. The chance
of getting everyone that owns a lot up there to sign is a little
remote. If we don't get 100 of the owners to sign a waiver, we would
have to start a new LID to put this drain in.
Dave said as he understands it if we go ahead and do this part of the
LID this year and wait for the paving next year then some of the money
for paving could be used to take care of this.
J. D. Hancock told them we could not do that, he would check it out.
Blair Manwaring understood that the city could do the drain and then
reimburse the fund. The mayor said we could not do the work and then
go to the people and say we are going to have an LID. Glen Pond said
what if the work was done and then the LID did not go and you would not
have the funds to pay it back. Nyle Fullmer said it would cost more
that way.
The mayor said he did not think we could do it legally.
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Dave Pincock said from what he hears we can't put the drain in. The
mayor said only if 100$ sign a waiver. Brad told them all property
owners could come up with the money up front.
The mayor said the LID that we have now has to be closed out, because
we have to pay the contractor. The only way we can get the money this
year is to piggyback onto the LID and have everyone sign a waiver of
hearing. (discussion)
Dave Pincock asked if the city would participate. The city did assume
some responsibility when they annexed the subdivision into the city.
The mayor stated that it is the consensus to draw up waivers and see
how many will sign them. Nyle Fullmer said we need to look at the
budget and see if the city can participate. The mayor told them we
will get the waivers out to the property owners.
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Mayor, ile L. Boy
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City Clerk, Rose gle
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Public Hearing
Closing of Harvard
July 21, 1992
7:30 P. M.
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State of Idahoj
County of Madison( ss
City of Rexburg)
Present were the following: Mayor:
Councilman:
Excused:
Nile Boyle
Jim Flamm
Glen Pond
Nyle Fullmer
Brad Liljenquist
Farrell Young
Bruce Sutherland
City Clerk:
Attorney:
Rose Bagley
J. D. Hancock
Members of the Planning & Zoning: Jim Long, Mary Ann Mounts, Marsha
Bjornn, Davawn Beattie, Jeff Walters, Scott Mortensen.
A Public Hearing to determine whether or not the following described
city street which is South Harvard Avenue next to the Rexburg armory
building in the Sorensen Addition to the City of Rexburg be vacated.
"All of Harvard Avenue lying West of Block 6 of the Sorensen Addition,
Madison County, Idaho, as per the recorded plat thereof. and All of
Harvard Avenue lying West of Lot 1, Block 1 of the Sherwood Hills
Subdivision, Madison County, Idaho, as per the recorded plat thereof."
Glen Pond told the group that this is a Public Hearing All we are
doing is getting information.
The mayor asked if there were any conflicts of interest. John Millar
stated that he was acting for Mr Henderson not as a Planning & Zoning
member and did have a conflict.
John Millar with Forsgren Associates - Showing plan. The purpose is
not to decide the merits of the development but of the closer of
Harvard Ave. The city must go through certain procedures to abandon if
abandonment goes to the contiguous property owners. The apartment that
is proposed is for student housing. The building will be 53 feet wide
and 285 feet long. It would be constructed just south of the armory
building and north of the old KRXK Radio building. When Sherwood Hills
Subdivision plat was developed a few years ago, a portion of the plat
was left out of the plating process and intended for High Density
Housing. (explaining the plan) The plan was intended that Harvard
would be a street and a right-a-way would be obtained from the property
owners.
Bill Henderson- Box 376- Rexburg, Idaho- Basically we had a Planning &
Zoning meeting in December. At that time we filled up the city hall
with people against that project. The one concern which had some merit
to it was increased traffic flow on Harvard. Harvard probably can't
stand anymore traffic. This proposal took into account their
concerns. We went back to the drawing board and this is our remedy.
In abandoning the street we are not making the parking lot bigger.
The landscaped area is bigger than the original proposal. It is more
than is required by the new zoning ordinance. It varies between 20
feet and 40 feet, and on the north side it is 17 feet. This should be
the answer to everyone's concern. We widened the buffer zone and want
to close the street. We are still able to utilize the land as it was
intended when it was kept out of the subdivision when it was platted.
John said any in and out is on 2nd East. Bill said the width of the
parking lot is just what the ordinance requires.
Brad Liljenquist- if the city doesn't give up the street will you still
proceed with the project. Bill said it is inevitable, apartments will
be built in R3 zone. He told Brad if they don't abandon the street he
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would see what happens in court. Basically this is the answer to
everyone's concerns that were voiced in December.
Jim Long said what he is hearing is that he is interpreting the
Planning & Zoning Ordinance to say that you can put a parking lot on
the east side of the street even though it is not contiguous with the
property you are developing. Bill told him it was, if it is R3
parking.
Douglas Young 378 Yale- Asked about the zoning. John Millar told him
the Zoning Ordinance does not preclude the parking in R1.
Jim Long - It was my understanding, it was not possible to cross a
public right-a-way with his parking. John told him the ordinance says
a parking lot cannot be separated by a public right-a-way. Jim said he
interprets the ordinance in a different way.
Clyde Luke - 334 Harvard. His property would be directly affected one
way or another, if the street is not closed, or if the housing complex
is built. Assuming whether the parking lot is built or is not built
the area to the west of Harvard Ave in the 400 block is going to have
student apartments constructed on it, whether it is next week or two or
three years from now. The unit that is proposed parks about 40
automobiles. There is a piece of ground south of that, which last I
checked was known as the Bird property and eventually it will be built
on as well. There will probably be 35 or 40 care involved with that.
If Harvard is not closed, the majority of that traffic will not go to
the West and on to 2nd East. It will go to the north which is Harvard
Ave, where he and about 11 other families, who have signed a petition
in support of the closer of this street, live and exist with the
traffic. We already have a traffic problem. We have a traffic problem
due to the apartments that have already been built on the south of our
street over 20 years ago. Harvard was never designed and never
intended to be a feeder street. It was designed to service the
residents in that LDR1 area. If they come down 4th South hit Harvard
and then north to 3rd South they avoid one extra atop sign. We are
already entertaining much more traffic than our street was designed
for. If you were to figure approximately 20 vehicles per residential
block, that is the same as adding on 9 blocks of additional residences
down Harvard Ave. We have in the middle of our block ten small children
within two households. In the middle of the block the traffic reaches
nearly 40 miles per hour before they put on their brakes to get ready
to elide into the stop sign. In the winter often they don't make it
and end up on a lawn. The property owners on that street have
discussed and decided to give our support behind the closure of
Harvard. Whether the parking lot is built, there is going to be
student parking on the Weat of that street and Harvard Ave will inherit
a lot of the traffic from those apartments. In the winter the snow
plows are very effective getting the snow pushed back to a point, but
when there gets more snow we only have one lane. With this excessive
traffic, you aren't talking about the width of 2nd East or 3rd East, we
are talking about Harvard Ave which is much narrower. We urge the city
council to approve the request that Harvard Ave be allowed to be
closed. A number of people are here tonight to urge the closer of the
street.
Jim Flamm asked him if the request to close the street would be there
whether Mr Henderson builds the apartment or not. Mr Luke told him
yea, whether Mr Henderson builds or Mr Smith builds we have a traffic
problem.
George Pingree- Salt Lake City, Utah- I am the trustee for a group that
owns Sherwood Hills. I am here just to listen and find out what people
are thinking. I am not in favor of one thing or another. One thought
he had, if Harvard Ave is closed rather than to close it at the end of
the green area, the dog Ieg just as well be closed off because there
would be no value of the street. It needs to be closed at South 3rd
East.
Mayor Boyle read a letter from Terrance Bagley, 423 Yale. He is
opposed to closing Harvard Ave and re-zoning lot 1, block 1, of
Sherwood Hills Subdivision. (on file)
Jackolyn Shattock- We own the Shattock apartments. We own lot 6 and
are not opposed to closing Harvard, we are opposed to all the traffic.
We need access to our property. John Millar said it would stay as it
currently is next to their apartments. We have people in the apartments
who have children so we don't want all that traffic.
Mr Luke stated if it was abandoned, could it revert to her in the same
manner. The mayor said if it were vacated it would go to the property
owner. Half would go to you and half to the Reserve Center. You would
have to maintain the easement, but you could gravel or pave it.
Brad Liljenquist told her if you wanted to request additional abandon
it would be a separate issue. (discussion) To abandon the dog leq it
will have to be a separate issue.
Brent Barker- 231 East 3rd South- They live on the corner of Harvard.
It is down hill to 3rd South. In the spring we have had cars on our
lawn three different times. The power poles have been hit and trees
have been hit. It is down grade and an unsafe situation, and these are
students driving and they drive at a horrendous speed. There are small
children on that block. Be conscious of the safety and the enormous
amount of cars going down Harvard. If they come out on 2nd they could
stop.
Cliff Jaussi- All of the things that have been presented, you can find
on any block in town the same thing. You should come down 2nd East, in
the winter you can see cars on the lawns or around a utility pole. It
won't change, it will get worse because we are getting more cars. He
questioned the one entrance into the complex and wondered if you could
get a fire truck in and out. We need to have another way out of the
complex. He is opposed to closing any streets in Rexburg. If you want
to shut them down and still own them that is okay, but don't give them
away. They laid out a good plat when they first set it up and in the
last few years all they have done is close streets. It will affect the
whole city. You have kids on every street playing. I am not in favor
of putting any big housing units in there. We need to build in other
areas, so we can spread the cars out. He was oppose to closing any
more roads in our city.
Dawn Anderson- 324 South 3rd East-(1) She asked to see the blue print
as to where the exit is? John showed her. (2) Where do you project the
traffic will flow? John told her down hill. (3) Is there any chance of
there being another exit? John said it would have to be presented to
Planning & Zoning. The issue tonight is whether or not to close the
street. She said she lives on 3rd East and there are about 20
children. The street is also narrow, with parking and traffic
problems. Their main concern is the traffic. She asked what the plans
are for the buffer area? John said it would be landscaped and have
trees. (reading from ordinance)
She said she would also like to speak in behalf of Jim and Joan Green.
They would have a large parking lot in their front door. The Beehive
Credit Union is interested in the property south of the armory for
building an new credit union. She stated that a nice quiet daytime
business like that would be much preferred to a large student housing
complex. She was told it was zoned for student housing, not
commercial. She realized it was zoned for student housing but they
were concerned about the parking lot and the traffic and noise
problem. She stated in November this lot was referred to as an
unproductive patch of weeds and they were asked if they wanted an
unproductive patch of weeds in their neighborhood or put to a
productive use like this. Most of us said we would prefer the
unproductive patch of weeds. (read a statement- attached)
Layne Dearden- 352 South 3rd East - Does Planning & Zoning answer to
the City Council or does the City Council have the final say? The mayor
said if it has to be re-zoned it will have to come to City Council.
The Planning & Zoning just give a recommendation. In December a lot of
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people expressed opinions. Most of them did not want the development
and parking lot there. He only heard them say they would study it. He
then came to a city council meeting and it sounded like the decision
had already been made, that the parking lot would be acceptable.
Tonight I find that Mr Millar is not just working for the city on this
but is also working for the developer. Six weeks ago at that meeting
were you an employee of Mr Henderson and were you an employee of Mr
Henderson at Christmas time? The mayor told Mr Dearden that John
Millar had always declared his conflict of interest.
Chris Mattock - 407 South 3rd East - I would have a lovely view from
out my window if a parking lot was allowed to be put on this lot. He
realized that the issue was the closure of Harvard, but the next issue
would be to put a parking lot in. I am oppose to the closure of the
street because I don't think we need a parking lot in that area of
town. I am trying to sell my house and I think the city council has a
responsibility to its residents. It is the council's responsibility to
try to make sure the property values improve. You certainly would not
have been elected to see that property values go down. We have been
told in the neighborhood that if this project is approved and there is
a parking lot built, we can expect to have a decrease in our property
values of 10 to 20 percent. If I can't get what I have in my house and
have to take a loss of $10,000 or $20,000, am I going to come to you as
city council for redress on that. Mr Henderson won't be willing to
give me that kind of money. I am not here to take a loss on my
property, but that is what is going to happen if this street is closed
and the parking lot built, because people are not going to buy it. I
have my life savings tied up in my house and I don't expect to leave
them in Rexburg, when I leave. President Bennion told Mr Green on July
7 that Ricks College did not need any more student housing. He
referred to a letter from Mr Green and a petition. Farrell Young said
there are several signatures on that petition that are also on a
petition to close Harvard and we need to know how some of those people
feel. He said he was to a meeting when the street name was changed to
Technology Way and the people on that street were not notified. He
hoped they would not handle this situation the same way.
Jim Flamm - is the opposition to closing the street because of the
traffic or is the opposition to the building and parking lot or is it a
tool to keep the building and parking lot from being built. Mr Mattock
said it is one of the same.
The mayor stated that we would enter two different petitions into the
record.
Janet Webster - 430 Yale Ave- We bought a lot and built a home. At
the same time we bought it, you were having meetings to re-zone the
city and several of us came down and she came down another time and
checked to see that the whole Sherwood Hills estate was zoned
residential 1. Before Harvard Ave had changed their minds, they had a
lawyer, Mr Grover from Rigby and read a statement, and Mr Hancock had
called Renae Magee, and both of them said under the zoning rule in our
town and in the new zoning laws that is not zoned for a parking lot.
We are here to talk about Harvard, but I think that is putting the cart
before the horse. If we close Harvard, there is nothing else to do
with it but put up an apartment house. We were assured at the meeting
that it was Residential 1 and we did not have to worry about it. Am I
going to have to come to every Planning & Zoning meeting to protect my
right on my lot. I like Mr Henderson but I don't want him to build the
parking lot in my housing development. No one will buy those lots next
to the parking lot or it won't be the type of a neighborhood that we
want.
Mary Ann Mounts told her that Planning & Zoning did not change
anything. We did not mislead you. There is a gray area in our zoning
ordinance which we were not aware of on whether or not he can put a
parking lot in the residential zone.
Nancy Whyte- 610 Taurus- She has been representing Dr Pingree for
several years on this subdivision from the development right up until
the present. Dr Pingree inherited the subdivision. He inherited the
plat. Lot 1, Block 1 was designated as a parking lot when it was
subdivided to go along with the property on 2nd East. Until October of
last year everything from Green's house to the west was zoned R3 for
apartments. Every one who bought all around there, Mr Green, Mr
Mattock were already across from apartments. It was zoned at that
point for R3 and not until that time. When Aimans and Townsends
wanted to build nice homes up there, they were concerned about these
other lots being able to be zoned R3 so at that point all the lots
where Greens live and straight south and across the street, on South
3rd East were included in the covenants, because the covenants override
the zoning as long as they are stricter. We went ahead leaving out Lot
1, Block 1 still as a designated parking lot. Lot 1, Block 1 has
always been designated as a parking lot. Just since October has the
zoning changed. We have tried to protect all of the people buying
property up in Sherwood Hills. We want to protect their property so
the rest of the lots will sell. That is why all the lots are included
in the covenants, except Lot 1, Block 1. Mr Pingree has an investment
in that property and he wants what is best for that subdivision. The
lots in front may or may not sell, she thought they would if there was
a nice green belt in there. Lots across from apartments have sold all
over town. If those lots never sell, there is still that buffer
between that and the parking lot. Closing Harvard and containing them
and funneling the cars out 2nd East is the answer. Kids are going to
come and go so there shouldn't be a bottle neck. A lot of them will
walk to school anyway because it is so close.
Mary Ann Mounts - Told Nancy they should have come to the meeting last
fall and told us it was to be a parking lot. Going from R3 to R1 is
hard.
Nancy said she did not believe that it would lower the property values
because there are apartments all around there.
Gary Aiman- 350 East 1st South- I just built a home up there last
year. We have appreciated the nice residential area. It makes me
nervous that there is a gray area in the zoning on whether or not you
can come next to my home and put a parking lot. As I read through the
zoning ordinance, it seems clear to me that the intent for residential
property is not a parking lot. I sympathize that people want the
street closed to cut off the traffic flow. The noise potential and the
idea that he can come along and put in a parking lot in residential
property bothers me.
Dave Anderson 224 South 3rd East- As I look at the plans and see the
size of the parking lot and the size of the entrances, I am concerned
that they will at some other point establish another entrance. I was
under the impression that the Planning & Zoning was going to make a
recommendation to the city council. What was their recommendation?
John Millar told him that at that time it was determined that the
property was separated by a city street that it did not meet
requirements of the zoning so it probably did not go to the city
council. In the minds of the members of the Planning & Zoning
Commission, if we block the street off, is the parking lot an
appropriate use or is it in the interpretation or intent? John Millar
told him there is one clause that says you cannot have a commercial
parking lot in a residential zone.
Mary Ann Mounts told them on behalf of the Planning & Zoning, when you
draw up a zoning ordinance, it is a major operation. This is the first
one she had sat in on. She would guarantee that these problems will
always come up. We are not really surprised. It happens with
everyone. We did not foresee this problem and it is not stated as
clear as we would like it to be. If you are asking us if we wanted
parking lots to go in R1, no we did not. We have to go with what is in
the ordinance.
Clyde Luke asked if the lots are available for homes? If they are
there would be homes between the Greens and the apartments.
Layne Dearden- As everyone Bete up and speaks, I ask myself what ie
this person's best interest? Where will they be five years from now?
Why are they meeting in the meeting tonight? Some people are here
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because they want to make a bigger profit on a parcel of land. Some
people are at this meeting because their income directly from the real
estate is directly influenced by the decision of the city council. His
best interest is his neighborhood. He had heard people tonight talking
about nice homes. I don't know how much a house has to coat before it
is considered a nice home. I live in a nice neighborhood and I am part
of my neighborhood. He would like to remind the council that
neighborhoods are more that the expense of a house and much more that
what is going to happen to the traffic flow. When I vote for people
for the city council to make the decisions on any of the things being
talked about tonight, and the people the city council appoints to the
zoning committee, I did not vote for you collectively because I thought
you were the best decision makers in town. I voted for you because you
are my friends, because I wanted you to represent me, my wife, my kids
and the other people in my neighborhood. The things that are being said
tonight, I hope you are listening to and will truly represent us. I
plan to be here for a long time.
Clyde Luke- I hope I will be here in 25 years from now and I have a
vested interest in the neighborhood as well. I don't like parking lots
either. I have been told that this project is going to go through,
parking lot or no parking lot. That being the case, what we are here
to do is to determine whether or not we are going to close the street.
Discussion has been mostly on the parking lot. I don't think that is
why the hearing was called. Perhaps there will be a separate hearing
for that, I hope there will be. The council needs to decide, do you
please the fraction who doesn't want the parking lot thus indirectly
pleases all, and yet create a wide open traffic problem when the
apartments are built on the west side of the street and we get all the
traffic down Harvard. Do you think we will re-elect you at that
point. Be aware there are two factions not fighting against each
other. None of us want the parking lot, but if there are legal ways to
prevent the parking lot then I think we have to go with what is the
best interest of everyone. There are eleven families who have signed
the petition who do not want that traffic up and down that street.
Remember we were not here to discuss a parking lot we were here to
discuss the facts of reality.
Rusty Townsend - 351 East 5th South - I find it funny that they have
already talked about the exits. When asked where they would exit, they
said South 2nd East for now. They have already been planned. I do not
think there is a gray area that you can put a parking lot on LDR1, they
have already come to that conclusion. In the definition for LDR1, it
says it is for low traffic volume and low nuisance. There is no
question, if you put 100 cars on that piece of land it is not low
traffic. Mary Ann Mounts stated that working with zoning there is
always different interpretations. I am worried that the exit will be
on 5th South. If that is the case, lets just close 5th South up to my
house, so I don't have to worry about traffic. We all have traffic. I
want Mr Pingree to know that I am opposed to it. When I bought that
land and went to the zoning meeting, I was under the understanding that
would not happen. I am beginning to wish I would have build somewhere
else. I am opposed to the closing of Harvard. I am opposed to having
the apartment up there.
Clyde Luke - Have some studies been done on traffic flow. He was told
no. They were told that one exit is all that is required. Nyle
Fullmer said there are several apartments around the city that are at
least that large with only one exit.
John Millar asked Rusty Townsend when he bought his lot? Rusty told
him he bought it in August. John said at the time the lot was
purchased this whole area was zoned R3.
Rich Andrus- Rigby, Thatcher & Andrus- He is representing Mr
Henderson. (copy of statement on record) You have the obligation of
making decisions for the benefit of the whole community. We can't
forget the fact that Ricks College is the life blood of the whole
community. It wasn't too many years ago, when everyone in this town
was very concerned about loosing Ricks College. We have seen a
predominate growth in Ricks College since the 1960'x. Many of us have
been a part of that growth. We have seen Rexburg benefit by the growth
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of Ricks College. I suspect that many of those here tonight who have
spoken against providing student housing, probably get their living
directly or indirectly from Ricks College. If we want to talk about
vested interests, I guess we have to talk about all of our vested
interest in Ricks College. I think that most of you are aware that
Ricks College is anticipating further development, with a road coming
across the south part of town over to 2nd East. 2nd East is a major
arterial to Rexburg. The zoning ordinance takes that into account. In
the zoning, 2nd East in this area is HDR. As a lawyer, I get nervous
about hear-say comments. I think we need to question some of the
statements that have been made about land values. Mrs Whyte pointed
out that until October this land was all zoned for student housing. If
you go up there, you will find four separate four-plex apartments along
the north side of this property, and one four-plex across the street
from Chris Mattock's house. He bought that property when those
multi-unit housing were there. It was zoned multi-unit at that time.
If you go across the street, consistent with the former zoning
ordinance, there is either a nine unit or 12 unit apartments, several
four-plex apartments around that area. If we are talking about vested
interest, and being able to sell our property, I suspect that most of
these people who spoke tonight, bought their property when they should
have known that it was zoned for multi housing. Bill Henderson does
things right. He has proved over the years, he likes to do things
right. You have before you a plan of how that area will be developed.
If that does not develop, you do not have a plan before you of how it
will develop, but it will develop because it was zoned that way. That
is the logical thing to happen in the best interest of Rexburg. Unless
people don't think the growth of Ricks College is important for this
town. I hear from these comments a bit of inconsistency. This plan
will direct the additional student traffic onto an arterial street. It
will keep the traffic off Harvard Ave. The point I wanted to address,
I have prepared a written statement on my interpretation of the new
zoning ordinance. It is my legal opinion that the new zoning ordinance
does not prohibit any type of residential parking, in any type of
residential zone. We have to bear in mind that the zoning ordinance by
its very nature, is an impairment of property value. It is an
impairment of the property of Bill Henderson, to limit his use of it.
If the ordinance does not say directly what the restrictions are on
that type of development, it exists. It is my opinion, that your
ordinance is clear that any type of residential parking in a
residential zone is appropriate. Bill Henderson does not suggest that
he is going to throw up any type of a parking lot in this area, he has
been sensitive to the needs of this area. Harvard Ave is only a part
of a street right now, the city does not own a sufficient amount to
develop the street. They will have to get property from Mr. Henderson
to build a street.
Eric Olsen- 305 South 3rd East - I want to speak on behalf of Ricks
College. I am assistant dean of students at Ricks. There is an
enrollment sealing that has been placed on Ricks College. They are
turning away 2000 students. It has been made very clear that Ricks
College will not continue to grow. The proposed buildings are proposed
to accommodate the students that are already at Ricks College. Those
buildings have been put on hold. He was asked if he was speaking for
Ricks College. He said he was speaking as an employee of Ricks
College. He said he is Assistant Dean Of Students and in the circle of
the president and hears what is happening. There is an enrollment
sealing and we plan to keep it that way. What Ricks needs is married
housing.
Mayor Boyle - It irrelevant whether we need student housing. Under our
law we cannot say what comes in.
Bill said the reason you have not seen a landscaped apartment complex
around town is because up until October with the new zoning ordinance,
there was very little regulations requiring that.
Rusty Townsend - Mr Andrus was talking about the zoning ordinance as it
was before. We are talking about the ordinance as it is now. We are
talking of how it is now.
~/
Clyde Luke- part of the problem was caused because the Army Reserve
Center has closed the street.
Val Dietrich- I deal with Real Estate and I plan to to make money on
this deal and to loose friends. My father sold the property to the
Army Reserve. There was a road that was suppose to go through there.
Nothing has been addressed on an alternative. No one likes parking
lots, I don't like parking lots either. All the cities with colleges
have apartments and parking lots. If we don't have a parking lot, we
will have traffic going down Harvard Ave because if Mr Bird decides to
build on his property, he will need access to Harvard. Who wants to be
across from an apartment. Well they will put in a duplex or a
four-plex. The point is this land is for sale and there will be
apartments built. You have a plan that you can see and control. If it
is not built, another one will be built and you won't have this control.
Glen Pond - The comment was made there was not sufficient land for
Harvard to go clear through. Where does the city have control of
Harvard and where does it not have control. Would we have to get some
ground from Mr Henderson to complete Harvard?
John Millar - There is no ground that has to be acquired. That piece
of right-a-way was in the subdivision. The area where Mr Bird owns and
Hillcrest just south of where we are talking does not have adequate
right-a-way.
Nyle Fullmer - Every issue that involves the neighborhoods is an
emotional issue. We are not going to vote on anything tonight, but
there are a couple of things that need to be pointed out. Everything
to the west of Harvard is already zoned for multi dwelling. If we
don't close Harvard, everything between 2nd East and Harvard can then
be developed into multi dwelling. Harvard will still be open and the
traffic that everyone is so concerned about is still going north and
south and down Harvard to 5th South and 3rd South and we will have no
control over it. Everyone is talking about the traffic. Everyone
needs to take a logical look at the proposal and see if that is what
you are concerned about and see how it will affect your neighborhood.
If it is the traffic then that is the logical answer or if it is the
parking lot then you need to realize that the developments that Val is
talking about are still a potential. You need to decide which you
would rather look at. I think the way he is presenting it looks good.
If that plan is approved, it can be locked up so there is no way he can
come back in with a secondary exit. I hope everyone will go from the
meeting tonight and take a long hard look at it.
Bill - In Mr Green's petition, if in fact we are allowed to put parking
on the east side of Harvard, what keeps the other two housing
developments to the south from doing the same? John Millar said the
covenants of the subdivision state that is not going to happen, so that
isn't an issue.
Gary Aiman - If they decide to put the apartment complex where it is
located without the parking lot, is it allowed for that parking lot to
empty onto a residential street on the back side. He was told it was
allowed. This happens all over town.
Jim Flamm asked if before the new ordinance, were parking lots and
apartments allowed? Yes
The mayor stated that Planning & Zoning has given more protection not
less. They have done nothing to lesson the value of property.
(discussion)
Randall Porter - 208 East 3rd South- Asked if the road was not closed
and there was a traffic problem, could it be made a one way street? He
asked the council to consider the option.
The mayor said he thought we need to take time and look over all the
options. I assume as long as the hearing is still open anyone can
bring in testimony to the next meeting.
J. D. Hancock stated we will reserve the options.
~~
A motion was made by Brad Liljenquist to take it under advisement until
August 5 at 7:15 A. M. Seconded by Glen Pond. All Aye
A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Brad Liljenquist to
adjourn. All Aye.
Mayor, Nile L. Boyle
City Clerk, Rose agl
(All petitions, letters, and statements concerning the closing of
Harvard Avenue are on file at City Ha11 finder file name: Harvard
Closure)
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