Lewiston council approves zoning changes, labor contract, transit grants and street contract in single meeting

Lewiston City Council on a regularly scheduled meeting approved several ordinances, contracts and grants, taking votes that included zoning code changes for preschools and tiny houses, ratification of the city’s firefighter collective bargaining agreement, acceptance of Federal Transit Administration certifications and a grant to buy two buses, and award of a street reconstruction contract.

The council approved the first reading of Ordinance 49-44 to add definitions for “preschool facility” and “school” and to allow preschools by right in the same zones where K–12 schools are permitted, rather than requiring a conditional-use permit. Assistant planner Katie Hollingshead told the council the amendment “would reduce complexities because you would no longer have to go through that conditional use permit process,” and noted preschools would be required to meet the same special-condition criteria as schools, including mailed notice to property owners within 330 feet of a proposed site. The motion for first reading was made by Council President Kleberg and seconded by Councilor Schroeder and carried on voice vote.

Also on zoning, the council approved the first reading of Ordinance 49-47 to amend the city’s definition of dwelling to include “tiny houses” (400 square feet or smaller) within the definition of single-family dwellings and to amend the recreational vehicle definition to include park models (399 square feet or smaller). Assistant planner Katie Hollingshead said the change aligns city code with recent changes in Idaho code and would allow a tiny house on a single residential lot…