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Preston council establishes redevelopment area, advances $500,000 downtown revitalization grant application
Summary
After a public hearing, the Preston City Council approved Resolution 169 to establish a redevelopment area on State Street and advanced an application for a $500,000 Idaho Community Development Block Grant to fund downtown improvements.
The Preston City Council voted unanimously Oct. 28 to establish a downtown redevelopment area and move forward with a $500,000 Idaho Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) application intended to fund streetscape and pedestrian improvements along State Street between 1st South and 1st North.
Jules Belyea of the Southern Idaho Council of Governments (SICOG) told the council SICOG is applying on behalf of Preston and solicited public input as part of the grant process. Michael Harvitsgen of Jones & DeMille presented preliminary designs for low-cost, low-maintenance streetscape improvements — including clustered trees, updated lighting, removal of broken planters and other visual enhancements — and emphasized the drawings were initial concepts for the application process.
Clerk Linda Acock read a written public comment from resident Robert Kooren urging the city to address tree-root damage to planters, sidewalks and other elements if the project proceeds. Attorney Lyle Fuller advised the council that typographical errors in the published notice did not automatically invalidate the hearing but recommended clarifying the resolution language; the council amended the boundary wording to specify State Street "between 1st South and 1st North on both sides" before the vote. Mayor Dan Keller and council members stressed the resolution designates an area for study and does not itself declare any individual property blighted.
Councilmember Chris Larsen moved to adopt Resolution 169 (seconded by Councilmember Todd Thomas); the motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Terry Larson noted the presentation represented initial designs and said later changes are possible, while also urging inclusion of a potential State Street widening in plans following prior consultations with the Idaho Transportation Department.
The action advances Preston’s ICDBG application, which city staff said would include a scope of work, budget and schedule intended to address visual blight and improve pedestrian-friendliness on the downtown corridor. SICOG and the project consultants will continue design work for the grant application and accept comments received at and before the hearing.
What happens next: the amended Resolution 169 establishes the study area for the grant proposal; council and staff will incorporate further design, budget and boundary clarifications into the formal ICDBG application and related documents.
