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Pocatello council adopts housing plan, urging a toolbox approach to expand housing types
Summary
The council adopted the Pocatello Housing Plan, which recommends multiple strategies — missing-middle housing, accessory dwelling units, preapproved housing plans and a housing trust fund exploration — to address a supply shortfall and rising affordability concerns.
The Pocatello City Council on July 2 voted to adopt the Pocatello Housing Plan by resolution, approving a set of recommended strategies aimed at expanding housing supply and diversity.
Long-range planner Jim Anglesey summarized the plan's findings: the city’s housing supply has not kept pace with household growth, vacancy rates are low, and demographic changes (smaller households, more seniors and students) have increased demand for different housing types. "Pocatello is a community with tremendous strengths where the housing market is struggling to keep pace with the people and workforce we want to attract and retain," Anglesey said.
The plan presents a "toolbox" of strategies—encouraging missing-middle housing, accessory dwelling units, tiny homes, preapproved housing plans to speed construction, and measures to preserve affordability such as support for first-time buyers and exploration of a housing trust fund. Staff noted that some strategies require regulatory changes tied to a Title 17 code rewrite, while others could be implemented with limited public investment.
Councilmember Paulson moved to adopt the housing plan by resolution with the recommended language; Councilmember Mangum seconded. The council approved the resolution on roll call.
Council discussion touched on priorities, the estimated 10-year life expectancy for similar plans, and the timing of a Title 17 rewrite tied to implementation. No oral public testimony was offered during the hearing; written comments were included in the packet.
