Commission discusses adding supplementary zoning requirements for driveways, steps and manufactured homes

Lewiston Planning and Zoning commissioners discussed whether to add supplementary zoning requirements on Wednesday, including minimum driveway surfacing and permanent home entry steps, and how those rules could be applied to manufactured homes.

Commission members said the city currently lacks requirements for a paved driveway or permanent exterior steps and that those gaps can lead to visible, inconsistent property conditions. The commission considered whether such standards should be added to the zoning code or handled within the manufactured-home approval process.

"We don't have a requirement to have a cement or paved driveway, and we don't have a requirement to have permanent stairs on a home," an unidentified commissioner said during the discussion. Abel, planning staff, suggested some elements could be handled as part of manufactured-home approvals and site-plan reviews, while public works could continue post-occupancy inspections for drainage and utility hookups.

Commissioners noted practical limits: driveway and step requirements would require clear code language and enforcement mechanisms, and some elements — for example, sidewalks or curb/gutter — are already tied to full subdivision approvals. The commission asked members to gather examples from other cities and return with proposals at the next meeting.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff and commissioners to research potential supplementary requirements and to place the topic on a future agenda for further discussion.