Bannock County holds procedural public hearing on Pocatello area of city impact; no policy changes

Bannock County commissioners conducted a public hearing on the City of Pocatellos area of city impact (ACI) during a county meeting. County planning staff described the ACI as a planning tool required by state statute, said it does not change taxation or zoning, and emphasized the hearing was procedural.

Hal Jensen, planning director for Bannock County, told residents the ACI is required by state law and helps the county and cities plan for how a city may potentially grow into county territory. "An area of city impact is a planning tool that is required by state statute of a county and, all of the small cities and large cities that exist within a county boundaries to come to an agreement of how a city may potentially grow into the county," Jensen said. He added, "It does not change taxation. It does not change zoning. You are…