Planning Minutes 06/04/2002
.
CITY OF AMMON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
June 4, 2002
Minutes of the Public Hearing and Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning
Commission:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tom Hunsaker at 6:30 p.m. in the
City Building, 2135 South Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho.
Tom Hunsaker, Chairman
Greg Maeser
Ron Folsom
Elaine McGary
Dick Bybee
Cindy Donovan
Doug Willden
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS ABSENT
Maxine Hardy, Vice Chairman
Kevin Murray
CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT
.
Bill Manwill, Engineer
David Wadsworth, Public Works Director
Terri Scott, Deputy Clerk
The minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held March
5, 2002, were reviewed. Greg Maeser had a couple of grammatical changes.
Ron Folsom moved to approve the minutes of March 5, 2002, as corrected.
Chairman Hunsaker noted an additional discrepancy. Page 2 shows that Rex
Coles and Dennis Kiser live at the same address. Rex and Marjorie Coles live at
2643 South 45th East. Dennis Kiser lives at 2797 South 45th East. Greg Maeser
seconded the motion with the corrections. Voting was unanimous in favor.
Chairman Hunsaker opened the Public Hearing to consider the request for
annexation with initial zoning of RP for 26.62 acres owned by of Mark and
Aimee Johnson and David and Shawna Chamberlain. Notice of the Hearing
was published in two issues of the Post Register. Also, notices of the hearing
were mailed to property owners within five hundred (500) feet and to other
interested parties. Chairman swore in parties in interest who desired to present
testimony.
.
Alan Cunningham of Mountain River Engineering represented the developers to
explain the request. This request was presented in March and there was some
discussion on the property issue with the Whitings and Rex Coles. Mark's deed
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 2
line goes passed the fence line and the annexation request included to the deed
line. The Whitings expressed concern. The developers have tried to be
accommodating and not pass the fence line. The packet includes a map that
shows how the legal description is contiguous with the City of Ammon in the
southwest corner of The Cottages. Mark Johnson wants to annex into the City
so he can eventually subdivide his property. The description includes provision
for getting 90% of the water and sewer lines in the City. The request for
annexation was denied in March because of the property issue and there was a
question concerning the flood plain. The new FEMA map, which became
effective April 2, 2002, shows that the property is in flood zone X. The notice to
the adjacent property owners advised of the plan to annex this property, but it did
not try to determine if they wanted their property to be considered for annexation.
This annexation generates an island of property. Alan Cunningham oriented the
Commission members to the ownership of the various properties.
.
Greg Maeser asked about the property to the east. It is owned by David
Chamberlain, and it is basically farmland. Chamberlain's house is at the end of
the Drive. A concern the Commission had at the March hearing was with the
street. Is the street going to be widened and what is happening with the cul-de-
sac? Alan Cunningham explained that would be addressed in the Preliminary
Plat unless the Commission wants to it to be part of the annexation. Chairman
Hunsaker stated that as long as Mark Johnson is comfortable with getting one
but not necessarily the other they could be split.
Another question is regarding the property line. The property line has been
moved to the fence line. The actual description of what has been advertised is to
the fence line. It is anticipated that Mark Johnson will eventually quit claim the
property to the Whitings. There are a number of things that need to be cleaned
up in this quarter section because of the Snell Rock issue. Mark's deed line still
goes to the top line but he does not have any right to do anything with the
property. He understands that, but on paper, which everyone is taxed on, his
property goes to the deed line.
Chairman Hunsaker called for testimony in favor of the annexation. The initial
zoning asked for is the most restrictive. Details regarding the RP zone were
explained.
Dennis Kiser, 2797 South 45th East, asked about the zoning on the neighboring
properties across Crowley Road. He was of the opinion that the property across
Crowley Road to the south of Mountain Valley Estates (south of Mason Street)
was zoned commercial. It is not annexed to the City of Ammon. Ammon's
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map currently designates the area as low-density
residential.
.
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 3
Brooke Magleby, 5360 Lindee Lane, lives in The Cottages. She is in favor of the
annexation. She sees that it would create several pockets of properties that
would not be contiguous with City of Ammon. This is a concern of the city
officials and they are trying to take care of it. It is a wonderful addition to the City
of Ammon. In the long run it is beneficial, but she has concern about the pockets
being created.
.
There was no additional public input. Engineer Manwill restated that the quarter
section has had problems, which he has dealt with in working for Bonneville
County. The problem came out because the fences and the properties were
originally divided up based on where the existing road was. When the survey
points came in, they found out the original survey point that John David put in is
about eighty (80) feet to the south and a little east of the intersection of Crowley
Road and Sunnyside Road. The Snell Rock is in that intersection. As a result,
most of the fences are off about eighty (80) feet of what the actual deed lines are.
It is shown in this annexation request that Mark actually does own beyond the
fence line. He will own it until he quit claims it to someone else to solve only one
of the problems. Generally in areas like this, it is going to have to be a quiet title
action which would go to a court. When it goes to court, more than likely the
court would adjust the property lines back to where the fences are and recognize
the error. That can not happen until it is a judicial action. It basically would be
an acquiescence, and the courts would recognize that historically the people
have recognized the property boundaries as being the fences. Therefore, the
court would then decree that the fences now do become the property lines. Until
that happens, the property lines are where they come out based on the survey
based on the section corner not on the Snell Rock. There is a lot of confusion of
what is being used and what is owned. Basically what you are dealing with, as a
planning board, is the actual deeded property. If the Whitings were to come in to
request annexation of the sliver of ground that Mark is leaving out, the City could
not annex it because they are not the owners even though they have used it,
occupied it, and farmed it for their entire life. Mark is the only one that can
request annexation of the strip because he is the owner, but he has agreed to
leave it out of the annexation. To delay any decision until this is resolved, the
Commission members probably may not live that long. The quiet title actions are
usually a piece of property at a time rather than the entire area being taken care
of. It has to be resolved by quit claim deeds exchanged by each property owner
affected or the whole thing has to go into court. With as many owners as there
are involved, it is extremely unlikely that it would ever go to court to resolve all of
it at one time. The Planning and Zoning Commission is bound by the ownership
of the deeded properties rather than the usage. Chairman Hunsaker added the
southern boundary of the western portion is going to be the current deed line and
not the current fence line. There was additional discussion to help clarify the
issue on the property lines.
.
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 4
Chairman Hunsaker called for additional questions before closing the public
hearing. Elaine McGary opened a discussion on the difference in property taxes
for properties annexed into the City and those that remain in the County. There
was a clarification regarding what part of David Chamberlain's property is
included in the annexation and what part is not. The Commission had a concern
about whether or not annexation to the City is necessary in order to connect to
the water and sewer. Engineer Manwill explained the County's policy concerning
providing water and sewer service. It becomes a question from the City's point of
view if we want these properties to go on a septic system and have roads
developed which we do not have control over or do we care. Development of the
surrounding areas was discussed.
The public hearing was closed and the meeting was opened for Commission
discussion. The Commission had concerns about the Chamberlain property and
the road along the north of the Johnson property proposed for annexation. It was
anticipated that the island of property on the north would probably be annexed at
some time in the future. Leaving out Mark Johnson's property from the fence line
to the deed line was a good move. There was concern about becoming involved
with other properties that have boundary issues.
.
Dick Bybee moved to recommend to the City Council approval of the annexation
with an initial zone of RP of the 26.62 acres as presented and shown on the map
proposed for development as Cottonwood Hills Subdivision. Ron Folsom
seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Voting was unanimous in
favor. The motion carried.
.
The next item of business was the Preliminary Plat for Cottonwood Hills
Subdivision. Alan Cunningham of Mountain River Engineering explained the
plat. Not much has changed except the fence line. He is waiting for a street
name. Regarding the cul-de-sac, there will be a road stubbed out to the north.
It was asked why not extend the road straight through the Chamberlain's
property and go into the Mecham's property. David Chamberlain does not want
a road going through where his house is. There is 280 feet where they could put
a road with 110 feet lots. If you put in 110 feet deep lots by 100 feet wide, you
have 11,000 square feet lots. When you compare the 11,000 square feet lots
and the two-acre lots that Mark Johnson is trying to market and the lots in The
Cottages, which are half an acre, it does not mesh with the continuity the
developers are trying for. To extend the cul-de-sac further east, we are getting
resistance from the property owners. Chamberlain has a nice home with
landscaping and he has requested the road to end. As requested at the last
meeting, a drawing was prepared to show how the property would interconnect to
other subdivisions that are adjacent. Rex Coles' home or the Whiting's home
have not been located on the drawing, so where that connects into Mason Street
is not known if it will be physically possible. It is just a picture to show how this
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 5
will function on the basis of roads interconnecting into The Cottages, to Crowley
Road, and to 21st Street. The only way this will happen is for the Whiting property
to develop and the property to the north to develop. It is not known when or if
this will happen. It shows how the long cul-de-sac would function until the
property to the north develops, and it secures a road to the north.
At the present time, the developer has not requested an OL-6 to allow the
keeping of animals. The hearing notice did not include OL-6. If the developer
wants to allow animals, he will have to come back to the Planning and Zoning
Commission for another hearing.
Chairman Hunsaker inquired, if the Commission said they could not have the
long cul-de-sac even with road stubbed out, what about looping a road around
the north, the south, the east, and the west end of this property? This would
cause the property to be developed with a number of smaller lots. Other ideas
were brainstormed. It would be difficult to stub a road out to the south because
of the canal.
.
Greg Maeser moved to recommend to the City Council approval of the
Preliminary Plat for Cottonwood Hills Subdivision with an initial zone of RP
contingent upon the naming of the street when it is submitted as a Final Plat.
Ron Folsom seconded the motion. Voting was unanimous in favor. The motion
carried.
A resident of The Cottages stated that she had attended the meeting to voice her
concerns about the school situation. She has lived in Ammon for about six
years, and she has small children. She has watched the schools. She knows
that we have a new high school and we have a new junior high school. She has
children coming up to the elementary school level. We have some very large
subdivisions that have young families. She has heard that there are over a
hundred kindergartners coming in during the next three years from one
subdivision alone. She would like to know what plans are taking place or need to
take place on the future development of an elementary school. The Commission
members discussed the concerns. This is a School District issue.
She also asked for information on the water issue in The Cottages. She can
not plant her yard because of the water pressure. The developer and the City
both needs to accept the responsibility to provide water for the properties
annexed. The new well on the hill should alleviate the water problems. Public
Works Director David Wadsworth addressed the water system.
.
Regarding the annexation of the Hillpoint Properties, which included Quail Ridge
and The Cottages, there was a question about the width of the strip of property
that does east from Crowley Road as shown on the zoning map. The strip was
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 6
narrow when the first public hearing on the request was held, but annexation was
not approved. There was an adjustment to widen the strip for the second public
hearing when annexation was recommended for approval. The legal description
in the annexation ordinance confirms the width of the strip.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Chairman
Minutes were recorded by Terri Scott and edited by Aleen Jensen
Minutes approved
.
.
.
CITY OF AMMON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
June 4, 2002
Minutes of the Public Hearing and Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning
Commission:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tom Hunsaker at 6:30 p.m. in the
City Building, 2135 South Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Tom Hunsaker, Chairman
Greg Maeser
Ron Folsom
Elaine McGary
Dick Bybee
Cindy Donovan
Doug Willden
MEMBERS ABSENT
Maxine Hardy, Vice Chairman
Kevin Murray
.
CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT
Bill Manwill, Engineer
David Wadsworth, Public Works Director
Terri Scott, Deputy Clerk
The minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held March
5, 2002, were reviewed. Greg Maeser had a couple of grammatical changes.
Ron Folsom moved to approve the minutes of March 5, 2002, as corrected.
Chairman Hunsaker noted an additional discrepancy. Page 2 shows that Rex
Coles and Dennis Kiser live at the same address. Rex and Marjorie Coles live at
2643 South 45th East. Dennis Kiser lives at 2797 South 45th East. Greg Maeser
seconded the motion with the corrections. Voting was unanimous in favor.
Chairman Hunsaker opened the Public Hearing to consider the request for
annexation with initial zoning of RP for 26.62 acres owned by of Mark and
Aimee Johnson and David and Shawna Chamberlain. Notice of the Hearing
was published in two issues of the Post Register. Also, notices of the hearing
were mailed to property owners within five hundred (500) feet and to other
interested parties. Chairman swore in parties in interest who desired to present
testimony.
.
Alan Cunningham of Mountain River Engineering represented the developers to
explain the request. This request was presented in March and there was some
discussion on the property issue with the Whitings and Rex Coles. Mark's deed
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 2
line goes passed the fence line and the annexation request included to the deed
line. The Whitings expressed concern. The developers have tried to be
accommodating and not pass the fence line. The packet includes a map that
shows how the legal description is contiguous with the City of Ammon in the
southwest corner of The Cottages. Mark Johnson wants to annex into the City
so he can eventually subdivide his property. The description includes provision
for getting 90% of the water and sewer lines in the City. The request for
annexation was denied in March because of the property issue and there was a
question concerning the flood plain. The new FEMA map, which became
effective April 2, 2002, shows that the property is in flood zone X. The notice to
the adjacent property owners advised of the plan to annex this property, but it did
not try to determine if they wanted their property to be considered for annexation.
This annexation generates an island of property. Alan Cunningham oriented the
Commission members to the ownership of the various properties.
.
Greg Maeser asked about the property to the east. It is owned by David
Chamberlain, and it is basically farmland. Chamberlain's house is at the end of
the Drive. A concern the Commission had at the March hearing was with the
street. Is the street going to be widened and what is happening with the cul-de-
sac? Alan Cunningham explained that would be addressed in the Preliminary
Plat unless the Commission wants to it to be part of the annexation. Chairman
Hunsaker stated that as long as Mark Johnson is comfortable with getting one
but not necessarily the other they could be split.
Another question is regarding the property line. The property line has been
moved to the fence line. The actual description of what has been advertised is to
the fence line. It is anticipated that Mark Johnson will eventually quit claim the
property to the Whitings. There are a number of things that need to be cleaned
up in this quarter section because of the Snell Rock issue. Mark's deed line still
goes to the top line but he does not have any right to do anything with the
property. He understands that, but on paper, which everyone is taxed on, his
property goes to the deed line.
Chairman Hunsaker called for testimony in favor of the annexation. The initial
zoning asked for is the most restrictive. Details regarding the RP zone were
explained.
Dennis Kiser, 2797 South 45th East, asked about the zoning on the neighboring
properties across Crowley Road. He was of the opinion that the property across
Crowley Road to the south of Mountain Valley Estates (south of Mason Street)
was zoned commercial. It is not annexed to the City of Ammon. Ammon's
Comprehensive Plan land Use Map currently designates the area as low-density
residential.
.
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 3
Brooke Magleby, 5360 Lindee Lane, lives in The Cottages. She is in favor of the
annexation. She sees that it would create several pockets of properties that
would not be contiguous with City of Ammon. This is a concern of the city
officials and they are trying to take care of it. It is a wonderful addition to the City
of Ammon. In the long run it is beneficial, but she has concern about the pockets
being created.
.
There was no additional public input. Engineer Manwill restated that the quarter
section has had problems, which he has dealt with in working for Bonneville
County. The problem came out because the fences and the properties were
originally divided up based on where the existing road was. When the survey
points came in, they found out the original survey point that John David put in is
about eighty (80) feet to the south and a little east of the intersection of Crowley
Road and Sunnyside Road. The Snell Rock is in that intersection. As a result,
most of the fences are off about eighty (80) feet of what the actual deed lines are.
It is shown in this annexation request that Mark actually does own beyond the
fence line. He will own it until he quit claims it to someone else to solve only one
of the problems. Generally in areas like this, it is going to have to be a quiet title
action which would go to a court. When it goes to court, more than likely the
court would adjust the property lines back to where the fences are and recognize
the error. That can not happen until it is a judicial action. It basically would be
an acquiescence, and the courts would recognize that historically the people
have recognized the property boundaries as being the fences. Therefore, the
court would then decree that the fences now do become the property lines. Until
that happens, the property lines are where they come out based on the survey
based on the section corner not on the Snell Rock. There is a lot of confusion of
what is being used arid what is owned. Basically what you are dealing with, as a
planning board, is the actual deeded property. If the Whitings were to come in to
request annexation of the sliver of ground that Mark is leaving out, the City could
not annex it because they are not the owners even though they have used it,
occupied it, and farmed it for their entire life. Mark is the only one that can
request annexation of the strip because he is the owner, but he has agreed to
leave it out of the annexation. To delay any decision until this is resolved, the
Commission members probably may not live that long. The quiet title actions are
usually a piece of property at a time rather than the entire area being taken care
of. It has to be resolved by quit claim deeds exchanged by each property owner
affected or the whole thing has to go into court. With as many owners as there
are involved, it is extremely unlikely that it would ever go to court to resolve all of
it at one time. The Planning and Zoning Commission is bound by the ownership
of the deeded properties rather than the usage. Chairman Hunsaker added the
southern boundary of the western portion is going to be the current deed line and
not the current fence line. There was additional discussion to help clarify the
issue on the property lines.
.
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 4
Chairman Hunsaker called for additional questions before closing the public
hearing. Elaine McGary opened a discussion on the difference in property taxes
for properties annexed into the City and those that remain in the County. There
was a clarification regarding what part of David Chamberlain's property is
included in the annexation and what part is not. The Commission had a concern
about whether or not annexation to the City is necessary in order to connect to
the water and sewer. Engineer Manwill explained the County's policy concerning
providing water and sewer service. It becomes a question from the City's point of
view if we want these properties to go on a septic system and have roads
developed which we do not have control over or do we care. Development of the
surrounding areas was discussed.
The public hearing was closed and the meeting was opened for Commission
discussion. The Commission had concerns about the Chamberlain property and
the road along the north of the Johnson property proposed for annexation. It was
anticipated that the island of property on the north would probably be annexed at
some time in the future. Leaving out Mark Johnson's property from the fence line
to the deed line was a good move. There was concern about becoming involved
with other properties that have boundary issues.
.
Dick Bybee moved to recommend to the City Council approval of the annexation
with an initial zone of RP of the 26.62 acres as presented and shown on the map
proposed for development as Cottonwood Hills Subdivision. Ron Folsom
seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Voting was unanimous in
favor. The motion carried.
.
The next item of business was the Preliminary Plat for Cottonwood Hills
Subdivision. Alan Cunningham of Mountain River Engineering explained the
plat. Not much has changed except the fence line. He is waiting for a street
name. Regarding the cul-de-sac, there will be a road stubbed out to the north.
It was asked why not extend the road straight through the Chamberlain's
property and go into the Mecham's property. David Chamberlain does not want
a road going through where his house is. There is 280 feet where they could put
a road with 110 feet lots. If you put in 110 feet deep lots by 100 feet wide, you
have 11,000 square feet lots. When you compare the 11,000 square feet lots
and the two-acre lots that Mark Johnson is trying to market and the lots in The
Cottages, which are half an acre, it does not mesh with the continuity the
developers are trying for. To extend the cul-de-sac further east, we are getting
resistance from the property owners. Chamberlain has a nice home with
landscaping and he has requested the road to end. As requested at the last
meeting, a drawing was prepared to show how the property would interconnect to
other subdivisions that are adjacent. Rex Coles' home or the Whiting's home
have not been located on the drawing, so where that connects into Mason Street
is not known if it will be physically possible. It is just a picture to show how this
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 5
will function on the basis of roads interconnecting into The Cottages, to Crowley
Road, and to 21st Street. The only way this will happen is for the Whiting property
to develop and the property to the north to develop. It is not known when or if
this will happen. It shows how the long cul-de-sac would function until the
property to the north develops, and it secures a road to the north.
At the present time, the developer has not requested an OL-6 to allow the
keeping of animals. The hearing notice did not include OL-6. If the developer
wants to allow animals, he will have to come back to the Planning and Zoning
Commission for another hearing.
Chairman Hunsaker inquired, if the Commission said they could not have the
long cul-de-sac even with road stubbed out, what about looping a road around
the north, the south, the east, and the west end of this property? This would
cause the property to be developed with a number of smaller lots. Other ideas
were brainstormed. It would be difficult to stub a road out to the south because
of the canal.
.
Greg Maeser moved to recommend to the City Council approval of the
Preliminary Plat for Cottonwood Hills Subdivision with an initial zone of RP
contingent upon the naming of the street when it is submitted as a Final Plat.
Ron Folsom seconded the motion. Voting was unanimous in favor. The motion
carried.
A resident of The Cottages stated that she had attended the meeting to voice her
concerns about the school situation. She has lived in Ammon for about six
years, and she has small children. She has watched the schools. She knows
that we have a new high school and we have a new junior high school. She has
children coming up to the elementary school level. We have some very large
subdivisions that have young families. She has heard that there are over a
hundred kindergartners coming in during the next three years from one
subdivision alone. She would like to know what plans are taking place or need to
take place on the future development of an elementary school. The Commission
members discussed the concerns. This is a School District issue.
She also asked for information on the water issue in The Cottages. She can
not plant her yard because of the water pressure. The developer and the City
both needs to accept the responsibility to provide water for the properties
annexed. The new well on the hill should alleviate the water problems. Public
Works Director David Wadsworth addressed the water system.
.
Regarding the annexation of the Hillpoint Properties, which included Quail Ridge
and The Cottages, there was a question about the width of the strip of property
that does east from Crowley Road as shown on the zoning map. The strip was
.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, June 4, 2002 - Page 6
narrow when the first public hearing on the request was held, but annexation was
not approved. There was an adjustment to widen the strip for the second public
hearing when annexation was recommended for approval. The legal description
in the annexation ordinance confirms the width of the strip.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Chairman
Minutes were recorded by Terri Scott and edited by Aleen Jensen
Minutes approved
.
.