HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_Planning & Zoning Meeting_08092023 PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING
IONA COMMUNITY CENTER
August 9th, 2023 6:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chairman James West, Member Ray Hart,and Member Jason Cooper.
ABSENT: Member Clint Reading and Member Bill Koester.
VISITORS: David M Taylor, Michael Waters, Mary Waters, Trina Stumpp, Alma Stumpp,
Dixie Young, Silas Young,Nolan Getsinger, Mike Coombs, and Chett Abbott.
Chairman West welcomed everyone and asked Member Cooper to lead with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes: The approval of the minutes was postponed. Member Hart was not
present at the meeting last month and could not vote on the minutes. Without him we did not
have enough members to vote.
Items of Business:
Chairman West asked for Public Comment and Mike Waters, resident of Nu'R Subdivision came
to the stand. He wanted to voice his objection to the Nu'R development's annexation into the
City of Iona. Their subdivision did a survey and it came back with twenty negative votes, one
positive vote and one undecided vote. He stated that he believes that the city can give them
nothing. They are already on the same sewer as the city residents, on a county-maintained road,
and they have their own water system. Earlier they talked with the Green Valley Subdivision
HOA president, and she said they also did a survey with the results being one hundred and
eighty-seven against, and two in favor of the annexation. He stated that he believes there is
nothing that the city can offer except for a higher tax bill.
Trina Stumpp of 2150 N. 45th E. then approached the podium. She said in talking about possible
annexation, she has been going through the City Code, and she has some questions. She stated
that only a certain number of animals are allowable in the R-1 zone. She stated that the City
Council said they would be grandfathered in to allow more animals than what is currently in the
City Code. If they have more than the City Code allows, she believes it could increase contention
between residents. She also had a question about what they would zone the road. She said they
currently have a business, and wondered if they sold their home if they could be grandfathered in
to have their own business. She then stated that she doesn't believe that the city can provide
anything additional to them.
Chairman West asked for any other public comment. There is none, so he closed the public
comment portion of the meeting.
Ordinance to Enact a New Section § 10-1-24 of Iona City Code; adding Open Park Space
requirements for new subdivisions(Ord. 291-08-23)
Chairman West noted that our City Attorney Andrew Rawlings has drafted an ordinance for the
Park Space Requirements that have been discussed. He clarified to the audience that the
commission does not pass any ordinances. He explained the purpose of planning and zoning, and
how the commission's voting works.
Member Cooper noted that Attorney Rawlings incorporated the commission's comments from
the last meeting. Chairman West clarified for the people in the audience that he took what we
discussed to the City Council, and then the Council discussed it in their work meeting.
Member Cooper stated that he has no problem with it. Member Hart agreed.
Member Cooper moves to recommend to approve the ordinance of the City of Iona, Idaho;
enacting a new section 10-1-24 of the Iona City Code; adding open park space requirements for
new subdivisions; providing for severability; and establishing an effective date. He also moved
to dispense with the rule of reading the proposed ordinance in full and on three separate
occasions. Member Hart seconded the motion. All are in favor, the motion carried.
Ordinance to Amend Iona City Code § 11-14-2, clarifying requirements for Variances
(Ord. 292-08-23)
Chairman West stated that this ordinance has come about through multiple discussions. It would
allow for variances to be more easily attained; Member Cooper clarified that it is more of a clear
path forward than an easier way. Chairman West stated that the hardship that the City Code
required was a hard line, and if the applicant didn't have a hardship no variance was approved.
This new ordinance allows the City Council to look beyond the necessity of a hardship and to
make a logical conclusion from there.
Chairman West spoke to the audience about Iona's City Code, and the purpose of updating it.
Member Hart moved to make a recommendation to approve as written the ordinance of the City
of Iona, Idaho; amending section 11-14-2 of the Iona City Code; clarifying requirements for
variances; providing methodology; preserving prior ordinances in each instance; providing for
severability; and establishing an effective date. He also moved to dispense with the rule of
reading the proposed ordinance in full and on three separate occasions. Member Cooper
seconded the motion. All are in favor, so the motion carries.
Discussion of Iona City Code § 10-1-17(E), pertaining to Construction Requirements for
Public Ways in the Iona Subdivision Ordinance, specifically driveway approaches
Chairman West commented that the discussion the commission has will be taken to the City
Council, but no action will be taken until there is a public hearing. The current code allows for a
half circle driveway to have two approaches that don't exceed fifty percent of the frontage. The
same fifty percent rule isn't applied to any other type of driveway. The only other rule is that
residents are allowed a thirty-foot wide driveway. What the City is starting to see, specifically
Public Works Director Prouse, is that because there is no percentage listed in the code, some lots
are building shops and putting two thirty-foot driveways, removing the swale, and causing
drainage issues. The concern with that is there is nothing currently in our code to prohibit them.
Member Cooper noted that a driveway is an impermeable surface. His opinion was that a
percentage rule would help prevent drainage issues. He stated that as someone who has built a
shop in the backyard, he didn't feel there was a need to increase the size of his driveway, so it is
not something he sees as a necessity for homeowners. Member Hart asked if there was a way that
we can amend the code to cover the drainage. For example, if they want to increase the
driveway, they can do a catch basin, etc.
Chairman West stated that because he knew the City Engineer, Building Inspector Allen
Eldridge, and Director Prouse weren't going to be able to be at the meeting he asked them to e-
mail him their opinions. These were their responses:
From Director Prouse: "My suggestion would be to add the separated driveways in as some sort
of percentage similar to the half circle driveway code since that is already allowed. I think that
the main issue the City is starting to see is a lot of accessory buildings being built with separate
approaches and no metric to regulate how much additional approach will be allowed in the ROW
for those buildings."
From City Building Inspector Allen Eldridge: `Bonneville County, the City of Idaho Falls, the
City of Ammon, and Jefferson County all have a 30' max approach; it is a common practice and
is more than adequate to accommodate most to car and three car garage homes.
The length of swells required for proper drainage snow removal safety both residential city
employees I feel should be limited to 30' max approach and no greater than 25% of frontage.
Several subdivisions that I have witnessed over the years that have filled their swales or fill them
full of approaches, driveway, or gravel for parking cars or access into the yard have flooded over
and over and over. The purpose for swales is to maintain or handle heavy snows, and heavy rains
to keep the water off the roadways. In these bigger subdivisions another approach would be able
to be place for shop entrances and still meet requirements listed above. Again, once we allow
swales to be filled, the roadways will become hazardous along with unsafe conditions for
driving, line of sight issues for backing out of driveways, and could potentially lead to
pedestrians getting hit on sidewalks due to vehicles being parked where the line of sight is
unavailable when pulling in or backing out of the driveway. I would also like to see on our
smaller patio homes with smaller frontages a 20-to-25-foot max approach. This would eliminate
multiple vehicles being parked on driveways. These are some of the items I face and see on a
daily basis due to residents not following City Ordinances: flooding of homes, blocking line of
sight accidents with cars to pedestrians due to line-of-sight issues."
Chairman West stated that he liked that idea. It seems logical because at twenty-five feet the
driveway would probably more than fifty percent of the approach. Member Cooper stated that
we could write twenty-five feet or fifty percent depending on the size of the lot. Member Hart
stated that the truth is they can always go in and apply for a variance if the homeowner doesn't
like the requirement and would like to do something different. As long as they are able to deal
with the runoff, they should be able to do what they would like. Chairman West stated that if you
apply the setback rule to the driveways to allow for drainage on either side, so they aren't putting
a driveway where the neighbors drainage would be affected, you could make a case that twenty
feet or fifty feet would be fine depending on the size of the lot.
Member Cooper stated that the Council could put stipulations that the driveway is not on a lot
line which would be pushing that drainage into their neighbor's property. Also if the homeowner
wants to have a larger driveway than what is allowed, they should be able to either come with the
current standards that would be set by the City Engineer, or come with a different plan for
drainage to City Council like we have done with the swales. There should be a requirement to
apply a twenty-five-year storm to that sidewalk, because if you fill your swale, you are also
filling your neighbor's swale, and if that fills it could become a road hazard. There could be
some allowances for places that have better drainage. His recommendation is not to exceed thirty
feet or fifty-percent of the frontage.
Chairman West asked what zone that recommendation would be for. Member Cooper asked what
the typical lot frontage is. Chairman West clarified that there is no typical number because each
lot is going to be different.
Chairman West noted that he would like the Council to consider options like we had for the
swales. Member Cooper said that the recommendation needs to fit in with the size of the lot
depending on the frontage. Chairman West hoped that the City Engineer will present some hard
data about what would be the best at the City Council Meeting. Member Cooper said that as an
engineer he doesn't know if there are any engineering principals that would limit the frontage
except for storm water storage. If someone wanted to put a french drain or a catch basin, he
thinks that should be allowed.
Chairman West stated that like we have done in other parts of the code, he would like to see
options that people can have. Member Hart added that then we can give them options for what
they can do instead of just saying no.
Chairman West asked if there was any other comment. There was none, so they moved on to the
next discussion.
Discussion of Annexation Plans for Green Valley and Nu'R Subdivisions
Chairman West stated that we understand the concerns of the people in attendance, but as far as
what the city provides, there really is a lot; parks, sports, etc. Maybe it doesn't apply to you, but
the City provides youth sports programs to keep kids off the street and keep them active, our
parks division maintains beautiful parks, we have wonderful events, you can use the parks for
personal use, we have tennis and pickleball courts, the city provides spaces for local residents to
have a farmer's market, and a splash pad, and right now the City is looking at working with the
county for future park development. It seems strange to say that we have nothing to offer just
because we have water and sewer. We understand that you don't use our snow removal and that
is fine, but ours is the best in the area. Zech and the crew do a great job. As for grandfathering
rules- he can't speak to that because that would be something the council negotiates with the
individual homeowners, and puts into whatever proposal and annexation agreement they come
up with in the end. There will be a lot more public hearings to hear and meet those concerns. He
said that he moved from another small town, but he grew up in a big city. He loves small towns,
and the City doesn't want to lose that feel, but the small town feel is getting swallowed up by the
county's inability to control the growth from developers on our borders or just outside. When the
subdivisions to our west were developed, they were developed with our codes and with possible
annexation in the future in mind. They weren't contiguous but they were developed with the City
code when putting in the roads and lots. He states that he appreciates the way that the City
Council is going about this is annexation- where there would be a fifty- percent vote. In the end
it would be up to the residents. I appreciate that about the city. As for the grandfathered question,
he only knows what the City has said. Whether that is only applied to you, or to when you sell
the house, he does not know.
Member Cooper stated that he has friends that complain about the impassibility of the roads in
Green Valley. There is a benefit in snow removal for them. An individual that he works with in
that subdivision has called in to work because he couldn't get out of his driveway. He stated that
there are a lot of amenities with the City. He says that he grew up here, and has loved it since it
was tiny.
Member Hart said that his ancestors settled Iona. He believes that the one thing we have to face,
noting that he is outside of Iona and will probably get forced annexed, is that growth is
happening, it's happening around us. As the county grows, it will swallow him up. Bonneville
County cannot help the people or take care of the necessities that a city can. It is not in their
budgeting, or their directive, he reiterated that he lives in the county, and that he sits on this
council as a volunteer because he knows that Iona will grow around him. The City is a very self-
reliant, self-sufficient group. We like to take care of ourselves. He has a hard time with the idea
of annexation too, but he's well aware of what's happening around him. The City is going to
have another 500-600 homes really soon around us. If we're not doing what's necessary to
control it, you will get what you get. I'd love to see something that allows every resident to have
options to come into the city, but to sum it up, growth is going to happen. The county is
averaging 400-800 homes a year, and it's not slowing down.
Chairman West stated that there is power in being part of a city. Power and protections for you
as a resident. He pointed out the fiber project as an example of being part of a city. The state was
able to send out grants, our City Clerk applied for the grant and got some of the money, it had to
be used for a specific purpose. At the time we had no fiber in this area and there were no rumors
of fiber coming. There was no incentive. Once the City had the funds, they put out an RFP and
we had multiple companies bid. Now not only are they bringing it into the city, but they are
bringing it to every individual's door. Because of the work of the office staff, and the approval of
the City Council, in the small town of Iona, every single resident is getting fiber brought to their
door with no charge to the citizens. Since DirectCom won the bid, Fybercom is also coming to
the area. It's great to have competition. There have been multiple occasions where the City has
provided services to our residents, whereas I've never bene part of an HOA that went after funds
to get fiber for their neighborhood.
Chairman West closes the discussion portion after asking if there was any other comment.
Member Hart motioned to adjourn. Chairman Member Cooper seconded. All are in favor, the
motion carried.
Meeting Adjourned: 7:37 p.m.
P&Z APPROVED: 69/I 3/203
James West, Chairman
ATTEST:
ç/ 4
Rylea Farrens,Assistant City Clerk