Sabotaging Tools Used For Planned Growth
Modifying the Comprehensive Plan
In the Ammon Comprehensive Plan [ACP] it states citizens want a 20%/80% ratio of housing. 20% High density and 80% "lower" density. However, some council members and the mayor do not fully support it. In the 08/13/2020 Ammon City Council Round-Table Work Session they were discussing a developer wanting to annex to the city and develop the "highest density they would have". Which was against the 20%/80% ratio. The council wanted to make exceptions and allow it because it would bring revenue and would not be a burdens on water or sewer. The Mayor stated (minutes 17:42:49)"I think the 80/20 rule is hamstring every decision that is made throughout the city." (hamstring means to limit the amount of something that can be done or the ability or power of someone to do something. Cambridge dictionary) He continues discussing how it won’t impact him because of where he lives, seems to fit, then he wants to allow it. If they don’t they are “just being arbitrary.”
In response City Attorney, Scott Hall suggested making changes to the comprehensive plan that would allow them to avoid keeping with the 20/80 ratio. And that is what they did on 9/9/2021 council meeting, amended that important guideline of 20% / 80% with Title 10 Chapter 5 Section 27. Below you can find a PDF of this ordinance.
What Can You Do?
A small way to get involved is to ask the city for figures. Email or call the City of Ammon and ask about the current ratio of High-density house vs. low-density house. If the city knows we have a desire to be informed and track the ratio, it might encourage them to follow it.
Cindy Donovan CITY PLANNER
P: (208) 612-4013
F:(208) 612-4009
Residential Density Ratio Amendments for 2022
Indirectly Altering the 20%-80% Residential Density Ratio
The State of Idaho does not give much direction on how to grow your town. Instead it encourages tools to be used to understand how a development will affect the environment. It also allows the power of limitation.
While every landowner should have the right to do what they want with their land, there is still the common rule of; "location, location, location." This mean, while I may own 6 acres near an Elementary School that does not give me the right to build a bar next to the school. There are limits. Limits give natural consequences and keeps life in balance. Another limit is density of population. These limits protect our resources like water, education, and safety.
At the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022 the leadership of the City of Ammon did not like the limits the citizens of Ammon want for growth. So the City leadership changed the limits. 80% of our residential growth should be low density. When the limit was first established in 2018 low density meant; detached single Family dwelling with 2.5 units maximum per acre (17,424 sq. ft. /lot). In 2022 it has been changed to; detached single Family dwelling with 6 units maximum per acre (7,260 sq. ft. / lot).
This new density definition will put stress on our town that may cause dramatic hardship. When you look at other towns with overdevelopment they suffer to the point of city bankruptcy.
We need to be proactive and not let a mindset of a few control our growth. This happens when the community creates a petition and asks for a community vote. The community should determine the density not the city leadership who are listening more to developers then us.
