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Council opens public hearing on Snake River West urban renewal plan, tables until feasibility study posted
Summary
The council opened a legislative hearing on the proposed Snake River West Urban Renewal District, heard one nearby property owner’s concerns, and tabled the item because the feasibility study was not included in the packet.
The Idaho Falls City Council opened a legislative hearing on a proposed Snake River West Urban Renewal District but agreed to table further action to a date certain after staff and the consultant said the feasibility study was not included in the publicly available packet materials.
Wade Sanner, the city’s director of Community Development Services and administrator for the Idaho Falls Regional Development Agency, said staff and the city’s consultant found the feasibility study missing from the packet and recommended tabling the matter so the study can be uploaded and reviewed by the public. Legal counsel Megan Conrad suggested opening the hearing to allow any present speakers to testify that evening and then leaving the hearing open until the next meeting.
A nearby property owner, who identified herself as Kitty C, owner of a self-storage facility at 1333 South Pioneer Road, said she had discovered the notice in the newspaper and had limited time to assess impacts. She said she had arranged follow-up meetings with staff and that she was “feeling a lot better about the potential negative impact” after local staff agreed to review a specific map line affecting her property. Kitty C said she would return to testify at the next meeting if outstanding concerns were not resolved.
A council member told the chamber they would recuse themselves because a family member owns property in the proposed district; the council accepted the recusal and proceeded. Staff and the consultant said developers were comfortable with a short delay; staff indicated April 10 as the target date for the continued hearing and any council decision, subject to final notice requirements.
The council took no final action on the urban renewal district; it left the hearing open and instructed staff to publish the missing feasibility study and to continue outreach to affected property owners.
Ending: The hearing will continue at the date certain advertised by staff (target: April 10); staff asked members of the public to submit comments by email or appear at the continued hearing so the council can consider public testimony and the complete record.
