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Lewiston residents urge limits on large-scale development, cite water, sewer and farmland concerns
Summary
More than a dozen residents at a Lewiston Planning and Zoning meeting pressed the commission to limit large residential subdivisions, citing water, sewer, power limitations, farmland loss and rising land prices. Commissioners said no formal applications had been filed and outlined notice and review steps.
Dozens of residents told the Lewiston Planning and Zoning Commission they do not want large residential developments in and around the city, raising infrastructure and farmland-protection concerns.
Speakers said they value Lewiston’s agricultural character and warned that large subdivisions would strain the town’s water, sewer and power systems. “We don't have the infrastructure at all to even add any of these large developments,” said EJ Welker, who identified himself as a resident. “I think there are a lot of a lot of things in there that are going against wanting to add and develop any large area, subdivisions, or other commercial applications.”
The comments followed the commission’s opening of the public comment period. Cameron Little, who identified himself as a resident, said he opposes large residential projects and described a local rule that limits agricultural building lots to 10 commercial lots per year. “I wanna live in Lewiston where we have a lot of ag land,” Little said. “Large lots to promote the kind of lifestyle we have here is what ideally should be happening.”
Several speakers raised infrastructure examples. Kevin Hall, who said he lives near Hall store, criticized frequent power outages and the town’s sewer system and said “we don't have the infrastructure to take this on.” Lindsay Costley described water-table problems at her property, saying she had needed a porta-potty when toilets would not flush, and warned that overdevelopment would worsen those issues.
Speakers also described economic effects. Courtney Little said prospect of development drives land prices up and can make land unaffordable for farmers. “The prospect of developments drives prices up, making land unaffordable for farmers,” she said.
Some commenters warned about long-term change to community character if incremental approvals begin. Jamie Sosnowski urged residents to resist incremental development, citing Herriman as an example of farmland loss. “We started with a very, very small amount of people, and it's well over 60,000 in a 20-year period. Is that what Lewiston wants?” Sosnowski asked.
Commissioners responded after public comment, noting the difference between inquiries and formal applications. The commission said it is required to post meeting notices on the Utah public notice website at least 24 hours before a meeting and called for residents to sign up for city alerts for agenda postings. The commission said no application for a subdivision or a development of the scale residents described had been filed at the time of the meeting and that any formal proposals would require public hearings and notice.
The commission also acknowledged the tension between protecting infrastructure and the financial reality that some infrastructure—sewer and water systems—require a certain number of users to be financially viable. “To pay for some of our infrastructure, you need people on a sewer system. You need people on a water system to be able to pay for it,” a commissioner said.
The public-comment period closed after the commission limited the session to 20 minutes. The commission invited residents to continue to monitor agendas and attend future meetings for any specific petitions.
