Moscow council approves Woodbury PUD amendment and replat, clears right‑of‑way vacation amid parking and infrastructure debate

Moscow — The City Council on July 21 approved a major amendment to the Woodbury First Edition planned unit development, approved a preliminary replat with one condition tied to an updated stormwater report, and adopted an ordinance vacating portions of public right‑of‑way needed for the replat.

Planning staff summarized the developer’s proposal to increase lots in the 21.73‑acre first phase from 78 to 107 and to replat a 12.27‑acre portion from 52 to 81 lots to allow a range of smaller cottage, mew and townhouse units intended to produce more affordable housing types. "Staff recommends the council conduct the public hearing upon the major PUD amendment and preliminary replat and upon consideration of testimony received. Approve the major PUD amendment for Woodbury first edition with no conditions and adopt PNZ's RCS document," planning staff said in presenting the recommendation.

Developer Mark Wentz, who described himself as a long‑time builder, said the project seeks a "new‑urbanist" character with walkable streets, mixed uses in a town center and a variety of housing types. "We're committed to doing the best we can in this project and we consider the city a partnership," Wentz told the council.

Council debate focused on parking, stormwater and fire‑safety infrastructure. Staff explained the project would include about 130 on‑street spaces in phase one and a proposed 41 temporary spaces adjacent to Rosemary Lane to gauge demand; some town‑center lots would provide fewer off‑street spaces (1.5 spaces per unit in parts of the proposal) than the city's single‑family standard of two spaces. Staff said the temporary spaces would be monitored by a combination of applicant reports and staff checks, and that additional off‑street parking could be recommended in later phases.

Residents who spoke were split. Supporters living in the development praised design and build quality. Opponents cited past infrastructure shortfalls and public‑fund reimbursements. Resident Dave Lametz told the council the city had to install the Ponderosa booster pump station and alleged the city reimbursed the developer for such work in ways he said might contravene state procurement law. Lametz urged the council to table the amendments pending further review.

City staff and the fire and engineering representatives told the council that fire‑code requirements and ladder‑truck access are enforced at the building‑permit stage. Engineering staff noted that field tests near the neighborhood business lots showed about 3,800 gallons per minute of flow and said that where fire flow is insufficient, building permits would require either fire suppression systems or limits on building type or height.

On formal action, the council approved the major PUD amendment and adopted the Planning & Zoning Commission reason statement. The council then approved the preliminary replat with one condition — that the applicant update the existing stormwater report and include any mitigation necessary to avoid downstream adverse impacts to the satisfaction of the city engineer — on a recorded vote of 4‑1 (Hailey voting no).

Council also approved a right‑of‑way vacation ordinance (Ordinance No. 2025‑07) to reduce a portion of Woodbury Drive right‑of‑way from 60 feet to 54 feet and to vacate Ashton Lane as a public street so the developer can reconfigure lots and use a private street section with gravel‑strip parking in some places. The council approved the ordinance under suspension of the rules by a 4‑1 vote (Hailey No); the ordinance directs that title to the vacated right‑of‑way and public utility easements vest with property owners as described in the ordinance.

What remains: the preliminary replat was approved with the single stormwater condition; final plats, building permits and any needed TIS (traffic impact study) for future phases must still be completed and reviewed. Council members asked staff to circulate the legal review and background related to prior reimbursements and have the city attorney examine whether past practices were consistent with Idaho procurement law.

Votes at a glance

- Major PUD amendment: motion approved (adopted P&Z reason statement); vote recorded as unanimous in favor by council members recorded during the meeting. - Preliminary replat (Woodbury First Edition): approved with one condition (updated stormwater report to city engineer); recorded vote 4‑1 (Hailey No). - Right‑of‑way vacation (Ashton Lane and Woodbury Drive adjustments): ordinance adopted as Ordinance No. 2025‑07; recorded vote 4‑1 (Hailey No).

Key quotes

"We're committed to doing the best we can in this project and we consider the city a partnership," Mark Wentz, applicant.

"Staff recommends the council conduct the public hearing ... Approve the major PUD amendment for Woodbury first edition with no conditions and adopt PNZ's RCS document," Mike Ray, planning staff.

"This reimbursement violates Idaho Code 67‑2805," Dave Lametz said in public testimony, urging further review; staff said the city's long‑standing practice has been to reimburse for upsizing developer work in lieu of separately bidding small public‑works segments and that the city attorney would review the record.

Why it matters

The council's actions reshape the Woodbury First Edition neighborhood plan for the next phases of development: higher density in the town center, altered parking expectations for mixed‑use areas, and narrower rights‑of‑way intended to encourage a more urban, pedestrian‑oriented town center. The council imposed one explicit condition to protect downstream stormwater impacts; multiple procedural and technical reviews — including final plats, building permits and any future traffic studies — remain before most buildings can be constructed.

Council members who supported the approvals said the amendments were necessary to encourage a more walkable, mixed‑use center and to increase housing variety; those who opposed or voted no cited unresolved infrastructure and enforcement questions that they wanted clarified before final adoption.