Bannock County holds public hearing to realign Downey area of city impact; officials say no immediate tax or zoning changes

Bannock County commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed realignment of the City of Downey’s area of city impact, a planning boundary cities use to anticipate where they might provide municipal services within the next five years. County staff and Downey officials said the change is a reduction of the city’s planning boundary and is required under recent state law.

The discussion matters to nearby landowners because areas of city impact (ACI) indicate where a city anticipates growth; however, county and city officials repeatedly told residents the ACI change does not alter current property taxes, zoning or representation. "It doesn't change your taxes. It doesn't change any of your representation," said Hal Jensen, planning director, explaining the county is implementing a state requirement to renegotiate ACIs.

The ACI is a planning tool, not an annexation. "An area of city impact is nothing more than a city anticipating where they could potentially grow within the next 5 years," Jensen said. Mayor Rex Nielsen of Downey said the city has no plans to extend city services beyond Airport Road during that period: "No. There's no plans to move city limits out farther than Airport Road."

A few residents asked whether the ACI realignment could lead to annexation or higher taxes. Lyle Krill, a county resident, said during public comment, "I don't know exactly what the hell is going on here," and pressed officials about potential changes to his property. County staff and Downey officials responded that annexation is a separate, statutory process that requires mailed notice and a city public hearing for affected property owners. "In order for a city to annex any additional territory or property, they have to go through the code that's outlined in the statute, which requires every property owner to be given notice of a public hearing," Jensen said.

During the hearing commissioners said the ACI boundaries are generally being reduced from previously larger buffers that in many cases extended several miles beyond city limits. Commissioners described the county action as largely shrinking county ACIs down toward existing municipal boundaries; Downey's ACI was described as being reduced toward its city limits, with reference points mentioned in public testimony including Grant Road and Airport Road.

The board opened the hearing on a motion by Commissioner Carrier and took public comment before closing the hearing by motion. No ordinance, rezoning or annexation was approved during the session; the hearing was procedural to meet the new state statutory requirement to renegotiate ACIs.

After the hearing the board recessed for about five minutes.