Garden City adopts new RM zone to implement medium‑density residential standards

Garden City’s council gave third reading and adopted Ordinance 10‑50‑24 on June 9, creating a new RM (medium residential) zoning district and approving associated findings of fact, conclusions of law and CPA documentation.

Staff recommended the third reading and adoption, and legal counsel (Mister Wadhams) presented an updated legal memorandum and a draft decision that adds rationale and conclusions of law intended to withstand potential legal challenge. Wadhams told the council he adjusted language in the decision document to reflect what the council heard during three readings and that the ordinance is legislative in nature; he also confirmed the changes align the municipal code with the comprehensive plan’s medium residential designation.

Wadhams noted the comprehensive plan explicitly designates areas "north of Chinden and west of Glenwood" for medium density residential and wrote that the code changes are intended to reflect that plan language. The council president cautioned that converting the R‑3 designation to RM or mixed‑use could change some neighborhood uses (artist studios, limited‑service restaurants, day cares, laundromats and other conditional uses), adding both potential walkability benefits and possible traffic concerns.

Council approved a motion for third reading by title only, then moved to adopt and publish the ordinance. A subsequent motion approved CPA FY2024‑00004 (the findings and amended decision) by unanimous roll call. The mayor and staff will correct minor typos in the decision document before final signature.

The ordinance changes do not on their own rezone specific parcels; council directed staff to begin identifying current R‑3 parcels north of Chinden and west of Glenwood for potential administrative work on future rezones in line with the comprehensive plan.