Bicknell council tightens commercial zone definition, adopts trailer ordinance and raises impact fee

The Bicknell Town Council on Feb. 5 voted to clarify which parcels make up the town’s commercial/residential zone and adopted a new ordinance that limits how long trailers may stay in town, along with approving an updated development impact fee.

Ellen, the town’s planning representative, told the council the planning commission recommended adding a sentence to the general plan that ‘‘the first 221 feet or a half block of property bordering Highway 24 is the official commercial zone for Bignell Town.’’ Council members debated whether a few parcels that no longer border Main Street under the revised parcel data should remain shown as commercial or be reclassified residential. Ellen said staff’s recommendation was to notify affected owners and hold a public hearing so property owners can confirm whether they want to remain commercial or be reclassified.

Council members agreed to send letters to the roughly four to five affected properties (examples discussed included the Tom Nickison lot, the pasture behind Sweetgrass, Vicki Bowers’ house and a small rental behind Carl) so owners could weigh in. A motion to add the 221-foot/half-block wording to the commercial/residential description passed by voice vote.

Separately, the council moved to adopt Building & Zoning Ordinance No. 25206, which updates the town’s rules for short-term trailer occupancy. Under the ordinance language approved, trailers are limited to 10 consecutive days with a 30-day cap during any calendar year. The ordinance passed on a council voice vote.

The council also approved an update to the development impact fee. Staff referenced the engineer’s study during the discussion; council approved a motion to raise the fee to $3,095.58. (During discussion staff and members referenced a figure of $3,095.15 earlier in the meeting; the motioned, recorded figure was $3,095.58.)

Votes at a glance - Approval: January 20 work meeting minutes — motion carried by voice vote. - Approval: January 8 council meeting minutes — motion carried by voice vote. - Approval: Jim’s business sign — motion carried by voice vote. - Ordinance adoption: Building & Zoning Ordinance No. 25206 (trailers: 10 consecutive days; 30 days per calendar year) — adopted by voice vote. - Impact fee: Increase to $3,095.58 — adopted by voice vote. - Bills: Motion to pay bills — approved.

What it means The zoning wording change tightens the town’s commercial boundary to a clear, parcel-based standard tied to Highway 24, which staff said will remove ambiguity from the map but may require notifying a small number of property owners who may have believed they were in a commercial zone. The trailer ordinance sets short-term-occupancy limits intended to prevent long-term residence in trailers without a formal permit process.

Council members said the votes were routine and were handled quickly after discussion in the preceding work meeting. The council did not record roll-call tallies by name for the votes; motions passed by voice vote with no opposition noted in the transcript.