Planning commission approves annexation of about 9.5 acres at 53000 West and zones it PO and R

The Roosevelt City Planning Commission voted to approve a property owner's petition to annex about 9.5 acres at 53000 West and to forward a proposed PO and R zoning designation to the City Council.

Drew (staff member) opened the discussion, saying the item on the agenda was the "annexation" petition and that the county had certified the annexation and returned it for the commission's approval. The parcel discussed is west of town and is described in the staff map as two adjoining parcels totaling about 9.5 acres.

The commission's action matters because approval sends the annexation and zoning recommendation to the City Council for a public hearing and onward to the state for final certification, a required step before the city can take jurisdiction over the land.

Commissioners and the property owner discussed access, utilities and development expectations. The property is accessible from 3000 West, a county road; Drew said the city is not currently running sewer to 3000 West and that properties in the area currently would rely on septic systems unless sewer is extended in the future. The commission noted a local regulator's minimum lot-size requirement: Tri County's rule requiring one-acre lots for properties on septic, which would govern any subdivision until sewer service is available.

The property owner (identified in the meeting as Nate) told the commission four site-assessment holes were dug in spring 2022 and that the holes reached about 9 feet with no standing groundwater recorded. The commission and staff said a formal Tri County site assessment would only be required if lots were subdivided or a new home was proposed; existing buildings are part of the annexation and would remain subject to current onsite systems unless development triggered a change.

Commissioners raised infrastructure questions. Drew said improvements such as curb, gutter and sidewalks along county roads are handled case-by-case and usually required when subdivisions are developed to city standard; the city could explore a special service district or taxing district to fund future road improvements. The commission also discussed that, if sewer were extended from nearby development, lot-size requirements and zone standards could be revisited at that time.

The commission formally moved and seconded approval of the annexation petition and the proposed PO and R zoning. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with three ayes and no recorded no votes or abstentions. Drew said the next steps are City Council public hearing review and final certification by the governor's office.

"I motion that we approve the application," said Commissioner (speaker 7) when moving the motion. A second was recorded from Commissioner (speaker 1), and the motion carried on the recorded ayes.

The discussion included technical clarifications but no changes to the annexation petition itself; staff noted that development standards (curb, gutter, sidewalks, stormwater mitigation and subdivision improvements) would be addressed during future permitting or subdivision review.

Looking ahead, any developer costs for sewer extension were described as the developer's responsibility if sewer is built to serve the property; the commission did not adopt development conditions at the time of annexation.

Votes at a glance

Annexation petition and PO and R zoning recommendation for about 9.5 acres at 53000 West: approved (motion to approve moved by Commissioner (speaker 7), seconded by Commissioner (speaker 1); roll-call: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0).