Council continues buffer-ordinance discussion; agrees to segregate new RM zoning and retain standards in Chapter 8-4

Garden City staff and council continued an extended discussion May 20 on proposed citywide buffering standards and a new medium‑density residential zoning designation (RM). The session reviewed a multi-page packet that compared existing code with proposed language for buffers, river‑zone protections, setbacks, retaining‑wall limits, and tree/landscape requirements.

Director Thornborough and planning staff (Jenna) summarized packet materials and described the approach staff used to separate the RM zoning designation from the broader buffer ordinance. Staff said most of the changes in the draft are clarifications: clerical edits, reorganized intent language, and clearer definitions (for example, ordinary high-water mark language to align with Idaho Department of Lands and Idaho Department of Water Resources determinations). Staff noted some substantive edits proposed after stakeholder comments: lowering a proposed retaining-wall maximum from 6 feet to 3.5 feet (so applicants would stack shorter walls with terraces rather than build single high walls) and clarifying when the 30-foot greenbelt/river setback would apply (up to 30 feet where Army Corps or flood-mitigation measures require it; otherwise the standard front/rear setback was proposed…