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Council approves short plat for Fairgrounds Place to unlock time-sensitive income-restricted housing
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Summary
The council approved a short plat to subdivide 28.41 acres at 4615 Fairgrounds Road, clearing the way for a time-sensitive, income-restricted housing project on a 6-acre parcel; council questioned annexation water charges and staff explained collection practice and costs.
The Pocatello City Council voted to approve a short plat application from McCormick Ranch LLC that subdivides about 28.41 acres at 4615 Fairgrounds Road into a 6-acre development parcel and a 22.31-acre remainder, council records show.
Developer representative Merrill Quill of MBQ Engineering told the council that an earlier plat submission included a typo on one lot size and that the corrected lot sizes have been reviewed by city surveying. Quill said the 6-acre parcel is intended for an income-restricted multifamily development supported by time-sensitive federal funding and that construction could start this summer with completion targeted in 2027.
The approval matters because the project team said federal funding tied to the income-restricted units carries deadlines and the city’s prompt approval would allow the developer to proceed with utility hookups and contracting. "This group has looked at three different sites," Quill said, "They really like this site and, again, time sensitive, and we're trying to work that." (Merrill Quill, MBQ Engineering)
Council members pressed staff and the applicant on the annexation water fee, an amount collected when properties join the city's water system. City water engineer Skyler Allen told the council the annexation-water calculation is based on projected per-acre usage and the property's zoning; his calculation put the 6-acre parcel's annexation-water charge at $24,912 and the remainder at $92,628, for a combined total of about $117,540 under full build-out assumptions. Allen said the city’s practice has been to collect annexation water at the time of final plat recording but that council may direct staff to deviate from that practice.
Councilmember Mangum moved to approve the short plat with all staff requirements and conditions in the staff report; the motion was seconded, the roll was called and the measure passed unanimously.
The council's approval permits the applicant to proceed to county review and to continue work on a water-line extension. Staff said additional short-plat filings will be required if the remainder is later subdivided.
