City updates zoning code, alters livestock and housing rules
NED NEWTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months AGO
The 80-acre vacant lot behind the county fairgrounds will be updated from a full industrial zone to a mixed commercial-residential zone under the updated city map.
Photo by NED NEWTON
BONNERS FERRY — The City Council voted unanimously at its May 20 meeting to authorize a new city zoning code and map.
“The new map is enhancing what we want for our community,” said Councilwoman Valerie Thompson.
The updated code reduces domestic livestock use in Residential B zones to chickens and rabbits. Initially, the draft code prohibited all domestic livestock use, but the Bonners Ferry Planning and Zoning Commission recommended an amendment to allow chickens and rabbits only, after several members of the public voiced opposition to the livestock prohibition at an April 17 public hearing.
“There’s a lot of us here that have chickens and cows and whatnot,” said one public commenter at the P&Z hearing last month. “It’s something that’s been in the community for quite a long time, and it creates opportunities for our kids to learn how to raise animals.”
The amendment to Residential B does not include allowances for cattle, horses, sheep and goats. However, existing livestock will be grandfathered into the new code as long as the herd does not increase.
The new map does not include any full industrial zones within the city. Light industrial zones will allow warehouses, fairgrounds, food processing, lumber mill grain storage and other light and medium uses.
The 80-acre lot behind the Boundary County Fairgrounds, previously zoned as full industrial, will be rezoned to mixed commercial and residential use, allowing for a variety of housing, entertainment, dining, parks, and gathering places.
The code also creates the option to develop cottage homes and townhomes to contribute to the city’s need to create affordable housing options.
Cottage homes are free-standing, single-family units, but they can provide higher density though shared open space and clustered parking areas.
Townhomes are single-family units, but they are attached and share common walls. The shared building can be subdivided into individual ownership of each dwelling. This allowance also provides higher density housing options.
A new feature of the updated code, administrative site plan review, should expedite the approval process for new developments in the city, as it allows city officials to review projects without requiring a public hearing.
The full updated city code and map can be accessed on the city of Bonners Ferry website.
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