[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6689169,"mediaKeyId","2255974-05b24deee9f23487d917c0bb63675ae2","parentId",2255974,"title","Council narrows small‑lot design standards to 2 of 10 after developer opposition; council approves first reading as amended","audioSeconds",2387,"startMs",1798000,"endMs",4185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255974-05b24deee9f23487d917c0bb63675ae2&start=1798&end=4185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255974-05b24deee9f23487d917c0bb63675ae2/thumbnail_1798000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6689169/Lewiston-City/Nez-Perce-County/Idaho/Council-narrows-smalllot-design-standards-to-2-of-10-after-developer-opposition-council-approves-first-reading-as-amended","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689169-7e7d2c34e534def74713acac42568e80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088378&Signature=ljOQ45jXGsNtwYLGNZyMrK5Y6dcniboPnwlaSUSWDaXJuyYQNwfT6lKKMYj0cwxlbNPOHIpQ~6cG0wCJhMMa2AsTzXobqQLFFVVffvjzBseHRTOqHd~5u1NWFvmK~EX6XCL1cXeUKy5pt5KN1RGwGW0gSr1WMXZVSvswENoFR4zD4D3mJCVYxXbmOuLpFZpudYNgLZFqSQZL3YnbSFPchB3ZNkZpuujRFFBciW2zTwacuZzjYAQ2PBmuk-d8e-afgEDVaFY04mGMlGx4zjnz7WRBrFZrzxJ9ubCqBmw~WeXCkJUbQKWxJ4ZzAbvWuS4OvcJNe6LekkGvUKUVYVGR4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lewiston","date","2025-02-11T04:08:12.58Z","article","The Lewiston City Council on first reading approved ordinance 49-35, amending the city's small‑lot and zero‑lot line development design standards to require developers to meet a minimum of two items from a 10‑item design menu.

Assistant City Planner Katie Hollingshead outlined the history: the city introduced small‑lot development standards in 2006, amended them in 2021 to add six mandatory design standards, and later convened planning and zoning and a city committee to revisit the rules after developers said the standards limited use of the small‑lot option. Planning and zoning proposed a menu of 10 design options from which a developer would choose five; the council ultimately amended that proposal to require two of the ten.

Local developer Dan Young testified he has used small‑lot processes previously and said the expanded list is confusing, costly and may hinder construction timelines. \"I just think that the market should drive what gets built,\" Young said, adding that the change in requirements in 2021 had already forced him to alter a subdivision plan and that delays cost him sales. \"I've lost some sales and it's cost me some money waiting from September until now,\" he said.

City Attorney Jennifer Tangano explained the purpose of the design standards: they are intended to protect neighborhood character and property values and to guide aesthetic elements such as porches, window area, roof type and tree plantings. Tangano said standards give staff and the public a clear baseline for design review and prevent arbitrary decisions at permit review.

Councilors questioned how particular homes would be affected by different thresholds. Hollingshead and legal staff said the standards apply when a small‑lot subdivision is used (a subdivision process), and that without standards the city cannot require specific design elements at permitting. Council President Klieberg moved to amend the proposed ordinance to require two of the ten design items; Councilor Forsman seconded the amendment. The council then voted to approve first reading of ordinance 49-35 as amended.

The ordinance changes the standards in Lewiston City Code section 30-7-33 and will return for later readings before final adoption. Staff said the amendment follows planning and zoning review and developer input and that it aims to balance flexibility for builders with neighborhood design protections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lewiston City Council Regular Meeting - 2/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After public hearings and testimony from a local developer, the council amended small‑lot development design standards to require a minimum of 2 of 10 listed design items (reduced from staff proposal of 5 of 10 and an earlier 6-of-6 standard) and approved first reading of ordinance 49-35 as amended.","taxTitle","Lewiston City, Nez Perce County, Idaho","taxId",37760,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689174,"Lewiston council approves first reading to halve minimum off‑street parking; resident raises downtown safety concerns",1438,282000,1720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255974-05b24deee9f23487d917c0bb63675ae2&start=282&end=1720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255974-05b24deee9f23487d917c0bb63675ae2/thumbnail_282000.jpg","/articles/6689174/Lewiston-City/Nez-Perce-County/Idaho/Lewiston-council-approves-first-reading-to-halve-minimum-offstreet-parking-resident-raises-downtown-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689174-e2b7fe46738fb03fcbc16acba794ba9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088378&Signature=MJwh4mU5-t-LIr0ymnWEn~PKwE~hF3DEnb~igtMUUFKpWA2RT2~k~a4fQ7dm-1imNu7rurEDghIUjOziGQ6R19sGOxfJhHtH96EcsFrgKQeDqpYFyPOxOodJ4EjBcmXm3zc9cMgAIf8PhWT~VozWMWFmTyuitGCo24Zd04GzVbwW7Zt8fxfxD7fAwGI6MYkLjqa3x4PntfBcSzScqQjrgbf4PmSRA49Khzd4zmuVj35EctzgAjH1h9s4pawDCDUNhUDyor6BOaXFST9z~eHTGdG4hcD9GZo9jKV35SZ84~AO9PQMgJv~f6qI~BgFTwsi9nCstjZUjKqqx-KvFD~JAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lewiston City Council on first reading approved ordinance 49-39 to reduce the city's minimum off-street parking requirements by 50% and retain existing maximums, a change city planners said is intended to encourage reuse and redevelopment of existing buildings.

Assistant City Planner Katie Hollingshead told the council the proposal was developed as part of the comprehensive plan work program and that the reduced minimums would apply to the off-street parking standards listed in Chapter 37. \"Rather than eliminate parking requirements entirely, the committee thought halving the current requirement was a better starting point,\" Hollingshead said, explaining the change is meant to make it easier for new businesses to occupy existing structures.

The hearing included public comment from downtown resident Nathaniel Tucker, who said reinstated overnight parking fines and enforcement of municipal lots have forced residents who live above downtown businesses to park away from Main Street. \"My household, myself and my wife have paid more than $300 to the city for this,\" Tucker said, and he told the council he had counted roughly 16 vehicles ticketed in one night in the municipal lot near the library, many with Lewis‑Clark State College parking stickers. \"This is a major safety issue,\" Tucker added, saying his wife and a relative must walk to lots or cross streets in the pre‑dawn hours and that transients in the area have created situations where residents feel unsafe walking alone to vehicles.

Councilors asked staff how the amendment would interact with existing downtown rules. Hollingshead said the city's Central Business District already has separate rules that in many cases do not require off-street parking; the proposed change would not create on‑street parking allowances in the Central Business District and would primarily affect off‑street requirements for new uses, changes of use, and new construction elsewhere in the city. She noted the code change is aimed at helping developers repurpose buildings where current occupancy types require more parking than the existing building provides.

The counciler motion to approve the first reading of ordinance 49-39 was moved by Councilor Schroeder and seconded by Councilor Klein; the council voted in favor and the clerk read the ordinance title into the record.

The ordinance will return for further readings before final adoption; Hollingshead and staff said the city will monitor the effect of the change on redevelopment and parking patterns.","Council approved first reading of ordinance 49-39 to cut minimum off‑street parking requirements in half and keep maximums; resident Nathaniel Tucker told council overnight parking fines and student dorm parking are forcing downtown residents to walk to distant lots early in the morning, creating safety concerns.","actionData","errors"]

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Council narrows small‑lot design standards to 2 of 10 after developer opposition; council approves first reading as amended

Lewiston council approves first reading to halve minimum off‑street parking; resident raises downtown safety concerns