Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
September 17, 2001

PRESENT: Mike Davis (Chairman), Bill Smith, Deb Coleman, Kurt Eidam, Kip Martindale, Connie Otteson, Dirk Mace, Rod Dalling, Karen Lords (P&B Administrator) and Sue Sommer (P&Z Secretary).

OTHER ATTENDEES: Jerry Woods

WELCOME: Mike Davis called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.

MINUTES: Upon review of the minutes, Dirk Mace motioned to approve the minutes as written. It was seconded by Connie Ottesen and approved unopposed.

PUBLIC HEARING – HOG HOLLOW HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION – 95 ACRES/32 LOTS – DIRK PARKINSON PROPERTY: Karen Lords advised that proper notice was mailed out, posted and published as required. The Board members declared that there was no conflict of interest and, therefore, Public Hearing could go forward. Karen displayed the Preliminary Plat Map and photos taken of the site. She went over the Plat Map and described where the photos were taken. She explained the ‘on-site’ meeting conducted on September 5th and included in the packets the LESA results leading to the property being considered Non-Productive Cropland. This property will have individual wells and septic systems. Because this property has canals on it, they will have to install a bridge to give access. They’ll have to answer further questions on how to handle the irrigation on this property. She read and passed out the written comment letter dated September 13th, 2001 from the Idaho Fish & Game.

Karen read the P&B Administrator’s Memo relevant to this project. Included in the packets to each Board Member were given copies of the Class II Permit Application, Public Hearing Notice, Administrative Memo, Development Review Checklist, a site map of the proposed project, approval letter from Fall River Electric Cooperative, Inc. (to provide water to this property), a letter from Mountain River, Inc. relevant to the test hole testing performed on the property and a copy of the minutes for the meeting at the property, relevant to LESA evaluation and site assessment. Chairman, Mike Davis, asked if there were any questions for Karen relevant to the proposed project. There were none.

Leslie Parkinson represented her brother, Dirk Parkinson, and she briefly described the project. She explained that are no water rights being transferred to this property. Dirk Parkinson is retaining the water rights. Three types of water on the property: Storage water (from Fremont-Madison Irrigation), runoff water that comes from the Fall River Canal and Chester runoff water from the Chester Ditch. No water rights will be available to the subdivision owners. There will be two entrances to this subdivision and a culvert-type bridge will be built over the canal and abide by the Fremont-Madison Irrigation District requirements. She explained, at length, the desire for a Homeowners Association and proposed covenants for this subdivision. She explained that the lawn and yard up-keep for the property will be ‘watered’ with domestic water from each individual well placed on the lots.

Chairman, Mike Davis, asked the Board if there were any questions for Ms Parkinson. There were none and, therefore, Chairman, Mike Davis, opened the meeting to Public Comment.

Lane Owens: Lives just down the hill from this project and have concerns of 30 plus building lots with so many sewer systems and the possibility of ground contamination. Is a ‘well’ sufficient to provide water to a home, water the lawns and water horses/animals on this property? There are no speed limit signs on this road, and with the increased travel/access from this sub-division, will the safety concerns be addressed? If the Golf Course exit is closed, the traffic will also increase on this road. Jerry Woods responded to the concerns over the handling of the water and septic systems. He stated that each individual will be required to have a well appropriate to the area and a septic drainage system to handle all waste, but that because of the size of each lot, he feels this will not be a problem.

With no further comments from the public, the meeting was closed to Public Comment and referred to the Board for a decision.

There was a short discussion among the Board Members about the culvert/bridge being placed on the property and the transferring of storage water. Kurt Eidam motioned to ‘conditionally’ accept the proposed development if the storage water rights are transferred appropriately. It was seconded by Bill Smith and accepted unanimously.

SKETCH PLAN – DEERCREST AT STONEGATE - 90 ACRES – RAY FINCH In the packet there was provided a copy of the Sketch Plan Review.

Ray Finch is the developer on this project and described the proposed project as 110 acres divided into approximately 43 lots in order to meet a 2.55 average density rating. Forest Service property is on almost all three sides. The plan is to have individual standard septic systems and an individual ‘well’ on each lot, because of the size of the lots. Mr. Finch displayed a plat map showing the proposed project. There was an extensive question and answer session on the easement issues. Karen assured the Board that the easement issues have been resolved.

Board Member, Deb Coleman, stated that she had concerns over this project because of the present contaminated water conditions up in the Island Park area. Mr. Finch stated that he had spoke to the Sewer District and this project and they felt that these lots were large enough to handle the proposed septic and water and would, have not problem with this project to be individual set-ups, because of the already ‘maxed out’ Mack’s Inn Sewer System. They have already performed a $1.7 million dollar upgrade and if new projects come in they propose the lots be capable of handling the individual systems vs hooking up to the Mack’s Inn Sewer.

Jerry Woods spoke on the 1996 requirements now for double encased ‘well’ systems and the ‘wells’ in the Island Park area are about 150’ to 200’ deep and the individual standard septic systems are ‘more than appropriate’ to handle each of these lots.

Rod Dalling motioned to accept this Sketch Plan and to go to Public Hearing. It was seconded by Kurt Eidam and was approved, unopposed.

FINAL PLAT – RIVER ROCK ESTATES – SID AND ADRIENNE KELLER – RICK BYREM This is to plat the entire subdivision. Last month we did the final plat on the front nine (9) lots. The Keller’s were going to do this in Phase’s, but changed their mind. They wish to include the larger four (4) lots in the rear of this subdivision and make them all-inclusive. Karen displayed the plat map as it has been modified.

After a brief discussion by the Board, Deb Coleman motioned to accept the Final Plat as now modified. Dirk Mace seconded and was approved, unopposed.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Attached to the Board Members’ Agenda was a list of the Permits that were issued for last month.

We are pushing to work on the Code Amendment changes by the October meeting. We should have the crossed out and edited changes for this Boards review. We are also aiming for February and March for the Public Hearings relevant to these changes.

Connie Otteson made a motion to adjourn the meeting and it was seconded by Dirk Mace and was approved, unopposed. Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.