050411P&ZMinutes
CITY OF AMMON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 4, 2011
AGENDA:
CITY OF AMMON
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
May 4, 2011
2135 South Ammon Road - 7:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chairman Steve Richards
Pledge of Allegiance: Robert Taylor
MINUTES:
March 1 and April 6, 2011
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2011-002 – 4060 E Sunnyside, Annexation with initial C-1 Zoning
2011-003 – Proposed amendments to Title 10, R1A, R2, R2A, R3, R3A
ACTION ITEMS:
1.2011-002 Recommendation on additional hearing.
2.2011-003 Recommendation on additional hearing.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1.Misc
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 Vice Chairman Steve Richards at 7:00 in the City Building at 2135
South Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho. Robert Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present:
Steve Richards, Vice Chairman
Tom Hunsaker
Cindy Donovan
Rick Butler
Kurt Roland
Scott Wessel
Robert Taylor
City Officials Present:
Ron Folsom, Planning Director
Lance Bates, Engineer
Gay Leming, Deputy Clerk
Absent Members:
Greg Maeser
Quinn Simmons
MINUTES:
March 1, 2011: Commissioner Tom Hunsaker motioned to approve the minutes, as presented.
Commissioner Rick Butler seconded the motion. All in favor – the motion passed.
April 6, 2011: Tabled due to the minutes not being able to be reviewed.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Vice Chairman Steve Richards explained the process, to the public, for the Public Hearing.
Planning and Zoning Minutes 5-4-11 Page 1 of 4
2011-002 – 4060 E Sunnyside, Annexation with initial C-1 Zoning:
Ron explained where this
property is located, which is in front of the new Public Works Building on Ard Dr. This property is facing Sunnyside,
but if it is turned into a commercial building all access will be removed from Sunnyside and converted to Ard Drive.
Ron explained the businesses that are allowed in the C-1 zone.
Vice Chairman Steve Richards closed the public hearing and discussion ensued, if the annexation fits the
City’s planning criteria.
Commissioner Tom Hunsaker motioned to accept the proposal for annexation for the property at 4060 E.
Sunnyside Road, with an initial zoning of C-1 and recommend approval to the City Council. Commissioner Cindy
Donovan seconded the motion. All in favor- the motion passed.
2011-003 – Proposed amendments to Title 10, R1A, R2, R2A, R3, R3A:
Ron explained the proposed
changes to the multi-dwelling sections. The request to change the R1-A zone, to allow Patio Homes, was brought to the
City by Rockwell Development. There have been other developers requesting this change, as well.
The child care language changes more clearly state what is already allowed. Ron went through all language
changes in each zone. We are removing commercial day care in the R-2 zone. Foster Family Care will be allowed in
R2-A and all other residential zones following the State Code. The City of Ammon does not allow more than 12
children in a day care as a home occupation. Anyone wanting to build Patio homes in any of these zones must follow
the R1-A zone.
Commissioner Hunsaker had the Commission look at 10-14A-5B2C, which discusses dwelling units
adjacent to an undeveloped R1-A zone and would like the same language for the R-2, R2-A R-3 and R3-A zones. The
R2-A zone area requirement needs to be changed so it is 100 feet wide.
Greg Hansen, 5699 Veil Dr. stated the reason he requested the current zoning change is that the zone
only allows certain homes, at the present time. There will be no apartments in these subdivisions, since they are not
zoned for apartments. At the present time, two story structures are allowed. With this change, it will be less likely a
two story building will be placed on these lots. Separating the common wall of a townhome to 12 feet in-between the
separated buildings will make it harder to meet the setbacks for a two story home. By dividing these homes, there will
be more green space in the sub-division and more on-street parking. Commissioner Hunsaker mentioned that the
townhouses were appreciating faster at one time than they are now. With Patio Homes there is a less likely chance of
investors coming in and buying these properties and then renting them.
Kim Lewis, 1075 Midway stated her concern was if there would be less parking than there already is,
because they live in a cul-de-sac. The neighbors’ concerns were also snow removal and garbage pick-up with more
traffic in the cul-de-sacs. She questioned if they build two stories, will they lose their privacy? Commissioner
Hunsaker addressed some of her concerns by explaining that we already allow two story buildings, as long as they meet
the side yard conditions.
Richard Holman, 5021 Remember Dr. stated he would like to see the data that would show that a
$120,000 detached home will sell better than an $115,000 townhome. He does not believe that a $120,000 townhome
will help the problem of the deprecations of homes - one size does not fit all. They want the uniformity of the
townhomes and not hodgepodge. They signed protective covenants and they feel that they should be able to keep what
they originally bought into. He wants uniformity and consistency.
Scott Wilstonhume 4026 Lakeview Lane stated he wants to know how this will affect the property
values, if this is a density issued. Rockwell has already said that the townhouse is not selling, so instead of changing
the zone to allow them to split the homes on one lot, why can’t they just build one Single Family Dwelling unit on the
lot. Scott believes that is all about the bottom dollar for the developer.
Matt Cardon, 4322 E 29 S. said his property boarders the backside of Cortland Ridge. He feels since they
are able to build 2 units on one lot, instead of a townhouse it would save the developer money. He feels this would
make the lots chopped up with 2 homes on one lot that, unlike a townhome, doesn’t look like one house.
Jean Peterson, 1086 Midway asked where the R-1, R1-A and R-2 zones are located. They were not told
about day care in their area when they bought their townhome. She would like to know how they were supposed to
know that daycare was allowed in their area. She says that most of the people living in the Trailwood areas are senior
citizens and they don’t want children around them. Rockwell is not taking into account their feelings.
Sandra Potter, 1076 Midway stated she feels the value of their property will go down when they build
two detached single family dwellings on the property and will bring a lower class of people with more children, which
they don’t want. This should be discussed further, before it is approved.
Colleen Sargent, 5277 Barton Place stated smaller less expense homes will bring in more children, pets,
and traffic.
Planning and Zoning Minutes 5-4-11 Page 2 of 4
Tyson Miller, 4909 Remember Dr. said he feels it is unethical of Rockwell to build this style of home in
this neighborhood.
Aaron Winder, 4980 Lily Lane stated he feels that Rockwell misrepresented themselves by even asking
for this.
Brandon Deshaw, 4980 Chimney Rock said he lives in a single family home and feels the smaller lot will
decrease his value.
Ron explained that after Greg Hansen’s rebuttals, the public comment period is now closed.
Greg Hansen, 5699 Veil Dr. said the City of Ammon sent letters to the people so they would know what
Rockwell was proposing. As for the parking, there is more room for parking with this proposal allowing a better layout
in the cul-de-sac. Rockwell is allowed to build 2 story homes right now, if they wanted, however, this is not their
intention. Separating the townhomes would not depreciate neighboring property values, rather they have found they
will be better. We don’t sell many detached homes to investors; however, we do sell more townhomes to investors.
Rockwell wants to keep the consistency and make them look just as good. As far as the complaint for the childcare,
these areas are not restricted to 55 or older and we can’t stop young people from moving into the neighborhood.
Commissioner Scott Wessel suggested that from the public input maybe we need to have a work shop, so we can
protect their home values.
Commissioner Robert Taylor doesn’t like the idea of just dropping the patio homes anywhere in the sub-
division and suggested that maybe the developer show us what lots they are going to place them on.
Commissioner Cindy Donovan said that Greg is not the only developer that is looking at this. On a
positive note, this is one of the first times that anybody has shown up for a change in the zoning ordinance. We can’t go
by sub-division and by block to tell the developer where they can put these homes. It is the Cities job to make the
ordinances for the zones and it is up to the developers to place their homes where they see fit.
Commissioner Steve Richards stated he thinks we have to look at this as what will it do for the City as a
whole.
Commissioner Tom Hunsaker stated he doesn’t believe that a big developer is going to make a hodge
podge of a neighborhood. Traffic studies have found there is a huge amount of traffic difference between a detached
dwelling and a townhouse. At the City level we just need to look at what will work best for the zone.
Commissioner Rick Butler stated he doesn’t think that we can micro manage this area and he believes
that single family dwellings are nicer looking than a townhouse and feels this makes sense.
Commissioner Kurt Roland stated he thinks it is a great idea overall. Ron thought it would be good idea
to recess this and bring in a committee to come up to a comprisable solution.
Commissioner Cindy Donovan motioned to recess the public hearing 2011-003 – Proposed Amendments
to Title 10, R1-A, R-2, R2-A, R-3, R3-A, until the July 6, 2011 Planning and Zoning meeting, provided that the
committee that has been brought together has come up with some new ideas. It could also be brought to the June 1,
2011 Planning and Zoning meeting if they can come to a conclusion quicker. Commissioner Scott Wessel seconded the
motion. All in favor - the motion passed. Greg Hansen took names of people who would like to be on a committee to
help decide what would be best for the residents.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. 2011-002 Recommendation on Additional Hearing:
CommissionerTom Hunsaker motioned there was
no need to have any additional hearings. Commissioner Robert Taylor seconded the motion. All in favor-the motion
passed.
2. 2011-003 Recommendation on Additional Hearing:
Vice Chairman Steve Richards stated 2011-003
was recessed.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1. Misc:
None
REPORTS:
1. City Council Actions:
Ron Folsom stated he had nothing to report.
2. City of Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Actions:
Cindy Donovan stated she had nothing to report.
Planning and Zoning Minutes 5-4-11 Page 3 of 4
3. Bonneville County Planning and Zoning Actions:
Tom Hunsaker said they talked about what will and
will not be allowed along the Snake River.
CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT:
CommissionerScott Wessel motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Rick Butler seconded the motion. All
in favor – the motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
___________________________________________
Steve Richards, Vice-Chairman
______________________________________
Leslie Folsom, City Clerk
Planning and Zoning Minutes 5-4-11 Page 4 of 4