Lewiston council trims zoning bill, removes mandatory outdoor-recreation standard for larger multifamily projects

Lewiston City Council on first reading approved a package of zoning-code amendments implementing portions of the city's Envision Lewiston 2044 comprehensive plan but removed a proposed mandatory outdoor-recreation requirement for multifamily projects.

City Planner Joel Plaskon told the council the draft amendments were developed by a council-appointed committee and recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission as part of implementing goals in the new comprehensive plan. "The committee reviewed those goals and objectives and came up with the zoning code ideas that are in front of you tonight," Plaskon said in his staff presentation.

Resident Dan Young, who attended the Planning & Zoning meetings, urged the council not to add the recreation requirement, saying it would raise development costs and create additional liability that could discourage new housing construction. "If you're going to force a developer who's doing a 10 lot or more apartment complex to do some sort of an outdoor recreation area, is that going to make the housing cost more or less?" Young asked. "I think the simple answer is ... it's going to cost more."

Councilor Klein offered an amendment to remove the sections that would establish specific standards for outdoor recreation areas (listed in the ordinance as changes to section 37-124.1). The amendment was seconded and debated; councilors expressed differing views about the value of small green spaces for residents versus the need to preserve flexibility for developers amid an affordable-housing shortage. Council President Klieberg described the issue as a balance between planned community amenities and permitting flexibility for new housing.

The council voted to remove the requirement (the amendment passed on a voice vote). City Planner Plaskon confirmed that removing section 37-124.1 Sub 3 would mean the city will not require the outdoor-recreation standard for multifamily developments. After the amendment was adopted, the council approved the first reading of Ordinance 4936 as amended.

What changed: the motion removed the portion of the draft ordinance that would have required multifamily developments larger than 10 units to include a minimum outdoor recreation area and related tree and shade requirements; other code changes in the ordinance (relating to lot sizes in R3, purpose language for R4, uses permitted in R4, conditional uses, building height, and allowing multifamily uses above ground floor in some zones) remain in the ordinance as amended.

The ordinance advanced on first reading; further required readings and public-notice steps remain before any code changes take effect.

Councilors who spoke during the discussion included those who moved and seconded the motions and several who asked planning and policy questions; resident testimony was provided by Dan Young. Joel Plaskon represented staff during the hearing and answered council questions.

Next steps: the ordinance will return for subsequent readings as required by city code. The council also directed staff and councilors to consider related code sections for small-house and manufactured-home developments at a future meeting.