Council continues proposed RM/RPUD code amendments for further review

The Nibley City Council continued discussion of proposed changes to the RM (residential mixed-use) and RPUD (residential planned-unit development) zoning code to a later meeting after council members said they wanted more time to align the draft ordinance with the ongoing general-plan update.

Staff described the main changes in the draft ordinance: a new 10- to 40-acre size range for RM zones, a reduced RPUD minimum from 40 to 20 acres, a mixed-use requirement in designated town-center/high-density areas (minimum commercial ground-floor area), streamlined requirements for re-loaded garages and limits on building length and height where multifamily abuts single-family, and authorization for fee-in-lieu for open-space amenities where adequate parks exist nearby.

Council members asked for more time to consider how the proposed changes interact with the general-plan future-land-use map and whether the rules would create unrealistic developer expectations in areas not mapped for RM. Council members also asked staff to consider whether the RPUD map or the RM map needed revision and asked for clarifying language on setbacks and buffering.

The council voted to continue the ordinance to its next meeting so staff and planning commissioners can refine language and present comparisons with the updated general-plan material.

Ending: Staff said they will return with refined code language, revised maps where necessary and clearer justification for proposed density, setback, and mixed-use requirements.

Votes and actions: Motion to continue the RM/RPUD code amendments to the next meeting carried on the council floor; no rezoning or code-change was enacted at this meeting.