McCall begins code cleanup and targeted amendments as Valley County narrows area of impact
Summary
Council and staff reviewed code amendments to remove area-of-impact references, tighten planning commission residency rules, align hotel and daycare language with state standards, prohibit private boat ramps in the shoreline zone and consider limits on self-storage/warehousing in city limits; staff will produce ordinance redlines for public hearings.
City planning staff presented a work session on proposed zoning code amendments across Titles 2, 3 and 9 intended primarily to remove or revise references to the McCall area of impact after Valley County signaled it will reduce that area and take over administration beginning in January. Staff said the edits are mostly clean-up but include a few targeted policy changes.
Key proposed changes reviewed by staff and the consultants included reducing the Planning & Zoning Commission from seven members to five and requiring a one-year city-residency minimum (with a two-year Valley County residency allowance for eligibility) plus a rollover clause so currently seated commissioners can complete their terms through January 2026. Staff proposed language to limit the number of commission members from substantially similar professions (for example, limiting the number of real-estate or contracting backgrounds) to encourage diverse representation.
Staff also proposed policy changes to clarify definitions (hotel/motel aligned more closely with state code), streamline care-center/daycare references to reflect state licensing and to identify private boat ramps in the shoreline zone as a prohibited use to avoid repeated disputes about whether a structure qualifies. A notable policy proposal would restrict the siting of self-service storage and warehousing in city limit zones on aesthetic and land-use grounds; staff framed that as a policy question with options ranging from conditional use allowances to clear prohibitions and design constraints.
On hearing procedures, staff proposed adding explicit language that if an applicant introduces new evidence during rebuttal, the hearing can be reopened for limited public comment on that new evidence (SIR rebuttal language), with legal counsel recommending a continuance where appropriate to ensure due process. Staff said the edits would be returned as redlined ordinance drafts and scheduled for public hearings after council feedback.
The council did not adopt code changes at the meeting; members gave staff direction to prepare ordinance drafts, redlines and public-hearing materials. The council completed the session with a procedural voice vote to adjourn.
