Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Residential Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission backs Anderson Townhomes Division 2 PUD, approves variances in recommendation to council
Summary
The commission recommended approval of the Anderson Townhomes Division 2 Planned Unit Development (35 units on about 2.3 acres) to city council, including requested variances to allow lots fronting private streets and reduced landscape buffers and rear setbacks.
The Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Commission on June 3 recommended approval of the Anderson Townhomes Division 2 Planned Unit Development to the mayor and city council, approving the applicant’s requested variances in the recommendation.
Travis Payne, the project engineer, described the proposal as 35 attached units on approximately 2.3 acres, for a density of about 15 units per acre. The product is two-story attached dwellings without garages; the proposal includes 71 parking stalls, a gazebo and a pickleball court. The project will be built in two phases, with phase one including 12 units and the gazebo; Boston Court improvements are included in phase one.
Staff reviewed the application and said the property was originally annexed with R1 zoning and was rezoned to R3A in 2007. The site is in the urban-core area and staff found the project consistent with the comprehensive plan and zoning code. Staff noted the trip generation for 35 units did not trigger a traffic study and that no city engineer deceleration requirements were identified in preliminary reviews.
The applicant requested variances to allow lots to front on private streets, to reduce the rear-yard building setback (from 25 feet to 10 feet in places), and to reduce the 10-foot landscape buffer along private streets to 4.5 feet in exchange for enhanced landscaping elsewhere. Staff said islands and enhanced landscaping are proposed to offset reduced buffers.
Commission discussion touched on cut-through traffic concerns and how a private street’s design and traffic calming might discourage use as a shortcut. Commissioners raised questions about circulation, the effect on nearby North Boulevard traffic, and whether Google routing might route drivers through private streets. The applicant and staff noted traffic-calming measures and parking islands would be used and that property owners would be responsible for addressing issues if they arise.
A motion recommending approval of the PUD and the variances to the mayor and city council carried on a unanimous voice vote. The recommendation transmits the variances to the council for final decision.
