030310P&ZMinutesCITY OF AMMON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
March 3, 2010
AGENDA:
CITY OF AMMON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
March 3, 2010
2135 South Ammon Road 7:00 P.M.
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Quinn Simmons
Pledge of Allegiance: Scott Wessel
MINUTES:
January 6, 2010, February 3, 2010, and February 17, 2010
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2010-003 – Conditional Use Permit – Charter School – Solitude Subdivision
ACTION ITEMS:
1.Action on public hearing
2.Recommendation on Public Hearing
3.Preliminary Plat and Final Plat – Solitude – Division #2
4.Site Plan – Solitude – D2 – Montessori Charter School
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. Work Session – March 17, 2010 – Comp Plan
REPORTS:
1.City Council Actions
2.City of Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Actions – Cindy Donovan
3.Bonneville County Planning and Zoning Actions – Tom Hunsaker
CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT:
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Quinn Simmons at 7:02 p.m. in the City Building at 2135
South Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho and Scott Wessel led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present:
Quinn Simmons, Chairman
Steve Richards
Cindy Donovan
Tom Hunsaker
Greg Maeser
Scott Wessel
Robert Taylor
Absent:
Rick Butler
Kurt Roland
City Officials Present:
Ron Folsom, Planning Director
Lance Bates, Engineer
Gay Leming, Deputy Clerk
MINUTES:
January 6, 2010: Commissioner Steve Richards motioned to approve the minutes for January 6,
2010, as presented. Commissioner Cindy Donovan seconded the motion. All in favor – the motion passed.
Feb 3, 2010: Commissioner Cindy Donovan motioned to approve the minutes for February 3, 2010, as
presented. Commissioner Steve Richards seconded the motion. All in favor – the motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Chairman Quinn Simmons explained the process for the Public Hearing.
P & Z Minutes 3-3-10 Page 1 of 3
2010-003 – Conditional Use Permit – Charter School – Solitude Subdivision
: Ron explained the property is
located directly east of Woodland Hills Elementary School and is zoned R1-A. Alan Cunningham, 1020 Lincoln Road,
explained that this is a Montessori Elementary Charter School. With the two dome buildings that are proposed, the cap
on students would be 192. There is a traffic study being done at this time. There is talk of offsetting the times one half
hour before or after the time when Woodland Hills Elementary starts.
David Meyer, 2599 E 97 N., Idaho Falls, interim administrator, explained that the charter was written in 2008
and approved by the charter commission in July of 2009. They would like to start the project as soon as possible so they
can start school in the fall of 2011. They would like the Montessori School program to be available to more children.
Currently, the Montessori schools that are available are private schools and there are a lot of people that cannot afford
the tuition. This would be a public charter school with no tuition. They would like to teach through age 12. They will
phase the student grades up as needed; however, right now it would probably be for kindergarten and first grade. The
local school district will have no overseeing of this charter school. It will be its own school district and is run by the
state instead of the school districts. They are exceeding the minimum requirements of square footage per child as far as
the state is concerned. There will probably be no more than 500 students with the area of the property they have. All
teachers must be state certified and they would have one administrator. The only thing that is privately funded would be
a preschool.
Darren Wheeler 1260 S. Rimline Road, is here to represent Dome Technology. He stated there is
flexibility for more infrastructure needs, if required. There is a traffic study being done currently which shows
Sweetwater Way is at maximum capacity.
Chairman Simmons closed the hearing.
The Commission discussed the traffic study and that staggering the start times of the schools might solve some
traffic issues. There was further discussion on how charter schools are funded and the consideration of secondary
access.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Action on Public Hearing:
Commissioner Greg Maeser motioned recommendation to the City
Council to approve the Conditional Use Permit for the school and that they consider the traffic study, the staggering of
start times for the two schools and the number of students allowed at this location. Commissioner Scott Wessel
seconded the motion. There were six Commissioners in favor of the motion, one against. Commissioner Robert
Taylor voted no stating he is opposed to charter schools. The motion passed.
2. Recommendation on Public Hearing:
Commissioner Steve Richards motioned that no additional
public hearings are needed. Commissioner Cindy Donovan seconded the motion. There were six Commissioners for
and one Commissioner against. Commissioner Robert Taylor voted no and stated he would like people opposed to the
school to still have an opportunity to offer input. The motion passed.
3. Preliminary Plat and Final Plat – Solitude – Division #2:
Alan Cunningham, 1020 Lincoln Road, stated
Sweetwater Lane is 48 ft from curb to curb. There is curb and gutter past Kingdom Hall, but to accommodate the future
flood channel, this does not go all the way to Township.
Commissioner Steve Richards motioned to approve the preliminary plat for Solitude Division 2, subject to
technical review from staff. Commissioner Greg Maeser seconded the motion. All in favor the motion passed.
CommissionerGreg Maeser motioned to approve the final plat for Solitude Division 2, subject to technical
review by staff. Commissioner Scott Wessel seconded the motion. All in favor -- the motion passed.
4. Site Plan – Solitude – Division 2 – Montessori Charter School:
Alan Cunningham, 1020 Lincoln
Road stated City staff has made them change a few things that were on the original site plan. The storm drains will not
be on site, but will use the public storm drain. Landscaping will be in by the second year that the school is open.
Commissioner Greg Maeser motioned to approve the site plan for Solitude Division 2 with changes and
recommendations by staff. Commissioner Cindy Donovan seconded the motion. All in favor – the motion passed.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. Work Session – March 17, 2010 – Comp Plan:
The Commission determined that the majority would
not be able to attend. The Commission determined the meeting still needs to be held, since it has been posted.
P & Z Minutes 3-3-10 Page 2 of 3
REPORTS:
1. City Council Actions:
Ron discussed what happened at Council for the month of February.
2. City of Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Actions:
Cindy Donovan stated there is no report
3. Bonneville County Planning and Zoning Actions:
Tom Hunsaker stated there was nothing in the City’s
impact area.
CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Scott Wessel motioned for adjournment. Commissioner Steve Richards seconded the motion.
All in favor, the meeting adjourned.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15p.m.
___________________________________________
Quinn Simmons, Chairman
______________________________________
Leslie Folsom, City Clerk
P & Z Minutes 3-3-10 Page 3 of 3