Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Rezone topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves rezoning, variances for Lewis Street lot to allow residential use
Summary
The council approved a map amendment to rezone a small Lewis Street parcel from C‑1 commercial to R‑2A residential and granted variances for lot size and a shortened driveway after a staff presentation and no public opposition.
The Rathdrum City Council voted to approve a rezoning and two variances for a small parcel on Lewis Street, allowing conversion of an existing small commercial building to residential use.
The council approved a zoning map amendment to change the parcel — represented at the meeting by Connie Krueger of Northwest Solutions and owned by Brandy Ross — from C‑1 commercial to R‑2A residential. The council also approved variances for the lot size (the parcel is about 5,044–5,200 square feet; the R‑2A minimum is 8,500 square feet) and for driveway length (applicant requested 20 feet where code requires 25 feet).
Connie Krueger told the council the building on the property has a green roof and is surrounded by established residences; staff recommended the residential rezoning after explaining commercial buffering requirements made a commercial redevelopment impractical. Krueger said the owner’s plan is to keep the existing structure and add a garage. City staff said the structure meets residential building standards under the IRC but is not currently connected to city water and sewer.
City staff presented a brief legal and property history: the parcel was noted in council records as part of the city since an 1891 ordinance; a 1982 ordinance rezoned the area to R‑2; a Quonset hut permit dates to 08/04/1995 and the parcel was split by quitclaim deed on 08/12/1997; the parcel was rezoned to C‑1 in 2004. Staff also noted that a prior attempt to validate the lot by declaring it a legal lot in 2020 could not be located in recorded documents, leaving the parcel nonconforming until the council action clarified zoning and granted the variances.
During the public hearing, no one spoke in favor, neutral or opposed. Staff said the request is intended to return the parcel to a residential character consistent with surrounding lots, and that the requested relief is appropriate because the lot and structure predate current code requirements. The council approved the rezone and the variances after motion and second; the public hearing and roll call produced no recorded opposition.
The owner intends to maintain the existing building and add a garage; because the building is not yet hooked to water and sewer it cannot be occupied until required utilities and building permits are completed and accepted.
