Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Code Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council advances buffer and PUD code updates; discusses mixed‑use conversions and river protections
Summary
Council reopened deliberations and approved second readings for a citywide buffer ordinance and a revised PUD code; legal counsel said the buffer ordinance effectively rezones many R‑3 uses to mixed‑use residential and emphasized Boise River natural resource protections in the decision rationale.
Garden City’s council used the June 9 meeting to reopen deliberations on Ordinance 10‑57‑25 (buffers, setbacks, Boise River protections and related code changes) and approved a second reading by title only. The move followed a legal review and a staff presentation.
Council president said the code changes are substantial, noting that shifting an R‑3 designation to RM or mixed‑use residential changes permitted uses in neighborhoods — potentially allowing artist studios, limited‑service restaurants, day cares, laundromats and small‑scale manufacturing — and warned that while neighborhoods might become more walkable, traffic could increase.
Legal counsel stated the packet includes a legal memorandum, draft order, and a draft decision; he characterized the changes in 10‑57‑25 as effectively a rezoning of R‑3 because about 26 different uses are being made permitted or conditional. Counsel cited the comprehensive plan and its goals for river protection, and said he incorporated rationale on Boise River natural‑resource protection into the decision document.
On a separate but related item, staff presented a brief report on the proposed PUD ordinance (10‑56‑25) and recommended adding language to address “blank walls” adjacent to residential zones by requiring landscape separators, windows, artwork or other treatments. Council approved a motion to include the suggested language for the third reading and recorded a unanimous second reading vote for the PUD ordinance.
Council did not finalize or adopt the buffer ordinance at second reading; legal counsel said he will prepare an updated draft decision for the third reading.
