HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_Planning & Zoning Meeting_11092022 PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING
IONA COMMUNITY CENTER
November 9th,2022 6:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairman James West, Member Ray Hart, Member Jason Cooper, Member Bill
Koester, Member Gary Elliott, and Assistant Clerk Rylea Farrens.
ABSENT: None
VISITORS: None
Chairman West led with the Pledge of Allegiance, and welcomed everyone.
Approval of Minutes: Chairman West entertained a motion. Member Cooper moved to approve
the minutes from September 14th, 2022. Member Hart seconded the motion. All were in favor,
so the motion carried.
Items of Business:
Ordinance to Amend Iona City Code § 10-1 Subdivision Ordinance, pertaining to Road
Cross Section Designs for new developments (Ord. 284-11-22) ACTION ITEM
Chairman West noted that the City Council will start discussing changes adding to the ordinance
to allow for the older parts of Iona to update or refurbish their frontage without having to adapt
the new code. Right now if anyone tried to add to or update their swale or driveway they'd have
to completely update to curb and gutter. We are hoping to add in additional code that would
allow for citizens in older areas of Iona to update their swales without needing to completely
update to curb and gutter.
Member Hart asked how they are planning on catching the water if they make the change to curb
and gutter. He wondered if the City of Iona has the manpower on staff to maintain this new
update. Curb and gutter isn't the issue, but French drains or any type of drainage system will
have to be cleaned out and maintained continually which makes this a more complex issue.
Member Cooper noted that any sediment that runs off the road into the gutter hits a catch basin
and then goes into the infiltrator which then prevents it from percolating water. He noted that he
feels like before something like this can pass he would like to see the specifications on the
infiltrator that they would be using. He then stated that our soil here has good percolation rates.
If the developer hits clay they would have to dig down past it or the drainage would suffer.
Chairman West wanted to clarify why the commission is discussing this now; the City Council
seems to have been against curb and gutter for a long time. When Freedom Fields was being
discussed they were against it due to maintenance, drainage, and snow removal concerns. The
reason we are bringing it back up is that it widens the road. In Country Haven there are major
concerns for snow removal, trash day, emergency vehicles, etc. because of the size of the road.
There are a few neighborhoods in the area that have implemented this. The Mayor likes the look
of the curb and gutter in neighboring communities and feels like we should have a conversation
about it.
Member Koester asked if this gives individual homeowners a larger front yard. Chairman West
stated that no, it doesn't. It actually reduces the size of the swale.
Member Hart stated that another problem is snow removal. Once you go curb and gutter you
have to have somewhere to go with the snow. Member Cooper noted that there is still a mow
strip, where the snow can go.
Member Koester asked if this would make it easier for law enforcement to deal with parked cars.
Chairman West noted that it might, but that the law is still going to be in place that makes it
illegal during plow season to park on the street. Curb and gutter would define the street as far as
plowing, making it somewhat easier for the plows to know where to go.
Member Cooper wondered if there is any reason that they are looking at a mountable curb as
opposed to a traditional full height curb. Chairman West doesn't know if there is a reason;
however, he wonders if it is lower maintenance with snow plows. Member Cooper stated that
wouldn't be the case.
Member Koester asked if each subdivision would have a different infiltration rate that would
need to be accommodated by a different size infiltrator, or different size of lot to catch it?
Member Cooper stated that he has designed roads, and he would recommend that every
subdivision would need to do a geotechnical study and percolation study to know what size of
infiltrator they would need.
Member Cooper noted that in road design you typically design for a one-hundred year flood
path. There are global and local high and low points. In the lows is where you put your catch
basin. If you flood any water should be contained from back sidewalk to back sidewalk. With a
mountable curb you lose some of that height by about half a foot. If you go to a standard curb
you gain about a half of a foot of elevation. He stated that he is not a fan of mountable curb, but
he is also not opposed as long as the flood path is taken care of.
Chairman West stated that he doesn't know much about the engineering, but from an aesthetic
point of view curb and gutter looks better.
Member Hart stated if we put curb and gutter in we will also need a storm catch system, there
will need to be someplace that all the water can run to and percolate. Member Cooper noted that
since we are not tied into a system, the contractor can either lose one lot to make it a retention
basin, or have an infiltration system. Chairman West asked if this could be an opportunity for us
as a City to create more green space because many developments are turning those retention
basins into parks. It could be a win-win if we decided to go that route. Member Cooper stated
you have to look at park maintenance vs. maintenance of an infiltrator from a cost/benefit
standpoint, once the developer deeds it to the City all of that maintenance then falls upon the
City. Member Hart noted that the Homeowners Association (HOA) could take it upon
themselves to maintain it, and Member Cooper countered that HOA's are great until they're not.
Member Cooper noted that in order to approve this, we really would need to know the type of
infiltrator or water retention system that would be used, and whether it was designed for a
specific type of flood or precipitation event and what type of maintenance it would need. We can
look to other cities in the area to see what they do.
Member Elliott noted that he believes that it is a great idea, an enhancement to the City, but
we're very preliminary and there are a lot of unknowns.
Chairman West asked if there are certain studies we can require the contractor to provide if they
go with curb and gutter. Member Cooper answered that yes there are, and he would want to
require a geotechnical study that would give the percolation rates from contractors.
The Commission discussed old Iona and what this change would mean to anyone who wanted to
change or update the area in their right-of-way.
Member Hart asked if this only applies to the City. Chairman West stated if a development is in
our area of impact they're supposed to adhere to our code. But it's up to the county to enforce it.
Member Cooper made a motion that the Ordinance to Amend Iona City Code § 10-1 Subdivision
Ordinance, pertaining to Road Cross Section Designs for new developments (Ord. 284-11-22) be
approved with the recommendation that developers submit a geotechnical report that includes
percolation rates for the land to be developed. It is recommended that the infiltrator be designed
to a City Engineer determined precipitation event, and that infiltrator have a detail designating
the type of infiltrator plus eighteen to twenty-four inches of four to six inch screen rock on 3
sides of the infiltrator and filter fabric that wraps the entire infiltrator with a manhole for
maintenance and it is recommended that the developer submit a maintenance plan for that
particular infiltrator. Member Hart seconded the motion.
Member Koester made a motion to amend Member Cooper's motion, with a recommendation to
have an opportunity for contractors to take one lot out of the subdivision as the infiltration area
to pick up the curb and gutter and make a green park-type area which would be deeded to the
City to maintain. Member Cooper seconded the motion.
All are in favor, the motion carried.
Discussion of Updates to the Bonneville County Area of Impact Agreement
Bonneville County is asking to meet with the City of Iona to update the Area of Impact
Agreement at a meeting on December 7th. The Commission discussed where exactly the current
boundaries are based on the map. Member Koester asked if we can annex the area up to our area
of impact. Chairman West clarified that the City can, but only if it's contiguous to the City limit.
Member Hart stated that he believes we need to extend our eastern impact area. Member Hart
noted that it should also be at least to Panorama. He then noted that he believes it should be
extended to Ririe Highway. We also need to extend west to Ammon Road. Foothill should be our
eastern border, if not further, and leave the southern boundary the same because it is at the
current Ammon boundary. We could recommend that we should have the boundary go to 1st
Street because the Iona Cemetery is on 1st Street and it should be included.
Chairman West noted that the closest elementary school is either Iona or Tiebreaker, and the
closest park for people in this area is going to be Iona Park. Those residents attend and
participate in our City Events, and use our facilities.
Member Hart stated that he thinks it best if we have the line be 1st Street with a jog around the
Iona Cemetery.
Member Cooper asked that we recommend to the City Council that we meet Ammon's area of
impact on the south and west, that we have encapsulated all the way to Foothill Drive on the east,
and that we expand the boundary on the north to Ririe Highway. Member Hart noted that we
need to make sure we don't just go to the Ammon boundary, but that we need to go all the way
to 1st Street, with the Iona Cemetery included. He also noted that our sewer line comes to us from
Beaches Corner, and it was designed so that it can meet the City at 49th North. It has a depth of
fifteen to eighteen feet so it would be beneficial for it to come all the way to the City.
Chairman West asked if any of the members of the Commission are willing to attend the
Bonneville County Planning and Zoning Meeting. Member Cooper stated that he will attend.
Member Hart stated that we should extend it so that we have more influence on the County as far
as controlling what is happening in our area. Chairman West noted that we've had the same
amount of influence as everyone else; however we haven't had any representation attending the
Bonneville County meetings. When it came to the subdivisions for Green Valley and Berkley
Park the City of Iona didn't go to the County's Planning and Zoning meeting.
The Commission discussed developers and the decisions they have been making for high density
housing in the area.
The Commission then discussed the boundaries of Ucon's area of impact. Member Elliott asked
if it would be smart to just take our impact to Ucon's border. We could just take our line to 81st
North.
The Commission discussed how it would be possible to annex developments that are currently on
a different water system and add it to the Iona water system.
Member Cooper stated that if a development is not annexed into the City you cannot require
them to use our utilities. Maybe we could recommend that number 11 in section 9 states that all
utilities are constructed to Iona City standards. Member Hart stated that it should include the
ability to be tied into Iona city utilities.
Chairman West stated that Chapter 10 also needs to be updated to our current zoning.
Member Cooper asked if we can put in a number 12 that the roads need to be built to the current
Iona City road cross section standard so that we have our three inches of asphalt over six inches
of road base, over twelve inches of pit run. Member Hart stated we should make sure that they
have landscape barriers or other right-of-way so that as we expand, the roads can be expanded
out so that we don't have to expand roads onto developed areas. Member Cooper confirmed that
is captured in number 2, but that there needs to be an eighty-five foot setback. Member Koester
asked if 85 feet is wide enough to accommodate new growth. Chairman West noted that our
current roads are 70 feet, so 85 feet is only one additional lane. We could make the
recommendation that they need to be brought to Idaho State Code for arterial roads. Member
Hart stated that we should make them big enough for a five lane road with sidewalks and utilities
on the side of the road.
Member Hart asked that whatever they come back with, the Commission hopes to review it
before it is finalized.
Chairman West motions to adjourn with the note that Member Cooper will attend the Bonneville
County Planning and Zoning Meeting on December 7th. Member Cooper seconds the motion.
All are in favor. Motion carried.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:07pm
P&Z APPROVED: 12/ /// /2 Z
Date es West, Chairman
ATTEST:
Rylea arrens, Assistant Clerk