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Commission approves rezoning for Taylor Crossing parcel to allow mixed-use development
Summary
The Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended rezoning a parcel in the Taylor Crossing area from Highway Commercial to Central Commercial, enabling mixed-use buildings with ground-floor retail and up to about 16 residential units above; the item will go to the mayor and city council as recommended by staff.
The Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended rezoning a parcel in the Taylor Crossing area from Highway Commercial (HC) to Central Commercial (CC) on Dec. 9, allowing mixed-use development with residential units above street-level retail.
Lauren Walker, the applicant for the Taylor Crossing parcel, told the commission the site—adjacent to the Eagle Waterfall roundabout and a Culver’s—would be best used for “a more of a live work, boutique retail experience” with housing above. “We’re really kind of excited about this particular piece,” Walker said, describing plans for about 16 units in a walkable setting and saying roughly 12–14 of the units would be residential.
City staff member Steph said the CC zone permits a mix of housing and commercial uses and is appropriate for areas designated as mixed-use centers and corridors on the future land-use map. Steph presented historic aerial context and noted the commission’s requested CC zoning would allow the site to accommodate housing types that the existing Highway Commercial zoning does not.
Commissioners asked practical questions before the vote: access to the site (staff and the applicant confirmed access will be off Pankaj Drive and Utah; two Utah access points were referenced), expected building heights (the applicant said most buildings would be two stories, with some two- to three-story elements possible), and coordination with IFRA (the applicant said the parcel is part of the IFRA district and that IFRA participation is underway to address public-infrastructure financing). Commissioners voiced support for adding walkable housing and retail to an underused parcel.
A commissioner moved to accept the rezone from HC to CC; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote. Staff will forward the recommendation to the mayor and city council for final action.
The commission’s decision changes the allowable uses on the parcel but does not itself authorize building permits; any future development will still be subject to site-plan review and other city requirements.
