[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6475447,"mediaKeyId","5733899-dcbd6e3b000acc1b292bc271d546a643","parentId",5733899,"title","Idaho Falls council upholds board of adjustment ruling that alfalfa field violated R‑1 zoning","audioSeconds",3483,"startMs",935000,"endMs",4418000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733899-dcbd6e3b000acc1b292bc271d546a643&start=935&end=4418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733899-dcbd6e3b000acc1b292bc271d546a643/thumbnail_935000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475447/Idaho-Falls/Bonneville-County/Idaho/Idaho-Falls-council-upholds-board-of-adjustment-ruling-that-alfalfa-field-violated-R1-zoning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475447-024219261011f64ace6180eadeaa9072/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448618&Signature=ILhjYvfGKMzxwM39hZcbprBbvDFAYzsWoQy5ss0RlwGi0cVreu3yCIwwacZ-9HiW5K6~0UWgUyyD0akdBeSQvUR2dB9g3jfqkc6Ha9~6TOjP4tXN7K1bgJPBff8yovBIpsDNKE~Wqx7kE7G9zuCS1XOIKeRZV36mg4jZuO8Wlabyovg0LA~Cww1jLFWX7M6wBTcQ-o7GbONujztfLiPSocZQK1kIq3Vl9stddCKJoF7UF3PZ-d83TOgTFzxo6T1dUQz4sz~TcvFa2H5DOAl2rouXbuoKVqwNyLwh68~sHR~9zvGSQ2nW0jY9SxzN2EYAg~ODaZES9HFtLvTZqun5KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Idaho Falls City","date","2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Idaho Falls City Council voted 5\u00009 to 0 on Tuesday to uphold a Board of Adjustment ruling that the planting and cultivation of alfalfa at 1796 Charlene Street constituted an agricultural use not permitted in the property’s R‑1 single‑family residential zoning.

The case, filed as appeal 25‑002 by resident Alexander Kingsbury (who said he shares the property with Sarah Parasow), challenged both a weed violation and a subsequent zoning violation. Kingsbury told the council he intentionally planted alfalfa for ornamental and agricultural purposes and invoked the Idaho Right to Farm Act in his defense. “I believe that the Idaho right to farm law protects me,” he said during the hearing.

The council's decision followed presentations from city staff and the city attorney explaining the scope of appellate review and the city’s zoning rules. Wade Center, Director of Community Development Services, reviewed the enforcement and zoning timeline and told the council the property is in an R‑1 zone, where agricultural uses are not permitted under the city's use chart (citing sections referenced to the council packet). Assistant City Attorney Jacob Beck argued the appellant had not provided the written legal bases required for the appeal and read case law and statute language explaining that the Right to Farm Act protects agricultural operations that predate urbanization or annexation, but does not broadly permit new agricultural conversions of residential lots.

Council members who spoke during deliberations said they found the Board of Adjustment's factual findings and legal interpretation supported by the record. Councilor Larson noted the appellant had been given an opportunity to identify specific points of error but had not supplied the written objections required by the city's appellate process. Councilor Freeman described the Right to Farm Act as intended to shield existing farms from becoming nuisances as cities expand and said that the Board of Adjustment did not err in its conclusion. Mayor Burton Shaw cast the deciding procedural guidance but did not vote except in the event of a tie; five council members participated in the vote and all voted to affirm the board.

City staff had traced the case through two separate enforcement actions. The first was a code enforcement notice citing the city's weed ordinance for vegetation taller than the 10‑inch height limit; that charge was appealed and, at one hearing, the Board of Adjustment found no weed violation. Later staff concluded the property also exhibited an agricultural use incompatible with R‑1 zoning and issued a zoning violation; the Board of Adjustment upheld that zoning violation at a later hearing and issued a \"reason statement\" explaining the basis of its decision. Beck advised the council that the written reason statement, once affirmed, starts timing for further appeals under state law.

Kingsbury told the council he did not receive some documents he expected in his packet and objected to procedural problems he said he encountered while filing appeals; staff said emails and mailed notices had been sent and Naysha Foster, who handled distribution of the board's reason statement, was included on the distribution list. Kingsbury also said he now uses the alfalfa to feed animals kept off his property and that the plants are used for noncommercial family purposes.

After the vote, the council instructed the city attorney to draft a final written reason statement consistent with the council's affirmance; that document will be returned to the council for formal approval on the next regular agenda and will complete this stage of the appeal process.

Votes at a glance: The council voted to sustain the Board of Adjustment decision (second hearing) that growing alfalfa on the R‑1 property constituted an unpermitted agricultural use; the motion carried 5\u00009 to 0 (Councilors Francis, Freeman, Dingman, Larson and Mayor Burton Shaw voting yes). No no votes, abstentions, or recusals were recorded among participating members.

Why it matters: The ruling clarifies that in Idaho Falls' residential (R‑1) zones the city will enforce the code's permitted‑use chart even when property owners claim hobby agriculture or invoke the state Right to Farm Act; council members stressed the municipal zoning purpose of protecting neighboring property owners and the residential character of R‑1 neighborhoods.

What’s next: The city attorney will prepare the written reason statement reflecting the council's decision; that statement will be placed on the next regular council agenda for adoption. The appellant retains any further appellate rights under state law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Idaho Falls City - City Council Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","The Idaho Falls City Council voted 5\u00009 to 0 on Tuesday to uphold a Board of Adjustment ruling that the planting and cultivation of alfalfa at 1796 Charlene Street constituted an agricultural use not permitted in the property's R‑1 single‑family residential zoning.","taxTitle","Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, Idaho","taxId",4472,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475436,"City staff to adopt 2023 state electrical code update; contractors to get training",175,5284000,5459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733899-dcbd6e3b000acc1b292bc271d546a643&start=5284&end=5459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733899-dcbd6e3b000acc1b292bc271d546a643/thumbnail_5284000.jpg","/articles/6475436/Idaho-Falls/Bonneville-County/Idaho/City-staff-to-adopt-2023-state-electrical-code-update-contractors-to-get-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475436-388c7dbba375499dfaf5f323919cb9c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448618&Signature=CIDizI6-cxEz1wtITgYOkhDZpUlG8mT9nqwPcVXDJ0VCdrt-MSFTIJCbqpeSeBgIq6ocAAAXNr7AoKCxjz-hoYrMxgjgaoG6LO-PJu7x3HgIIObWHJ9DvD5HBgQdIa6e9PXpYml2v~8Cwdtd3~soVX0K-hotGP9EQMuLd8MvY9omwPUkWxN~ca2SeiqrAHaZDA~XYnmHx~a2UoC3qDZyWuYVa8WSpxPqXWTPH1RLztKYS3PMPOv-juVulMXJvVeYCAygk1CJtoGvrn32p5nBU4WIApI09FgaECXLCcCwBnLCSRFnJNLhhK~IVGLpwPfAz74ofOvSnzUk6Q-b6ShjyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff notified the Idaho Falls City Council that the state has adopted the 2023 electrical code, superseding the 2017 version. The council will be asked to adopt a minor code amendment on Thursday to align the city's local code with the state requirement.

Staff said local inspectors and contractors have been notified and the city has purchased training for local electrical contractors; training sessions are scheduled for October. The staff presentation clarified that projects already in plan review will continue under the code version in place when they were submitted; the 2023 code would apply to new plan submissions after the city adopts the update.

Staff emphasized the change is primarily an update to modern materials and conduit standards rather than a wholesale rewrite of local technical requirements.","City staff briefed council that the state adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code on July 1; the city will update its local code references and provide contractor training in October; the change applies to new plan submittals after council adoption and will not retroactively affect plans already under review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475442,"Idaho Falls Zoo readies responses after AZA accreditation inspection; council briefed on fixes",324,3400000,3724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733899-dcbd6e3b000acc1b292bc271d546a643&start=3400&end=3724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733899-dcbd6e3b000acc1b292bc271d546a643/thumbnail_3400000.jpg","/articles/6475442/Idaho-Falls/Bonneville-County/Idaho/Idaho-Falls-Zoo-readies-responses-after-AZA-accreditation-inspection-council-briefed-on-fixes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475442-9d0f190b05d22d27c883124ef17beb59/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448618&Signature=l-HSFG-iVRqPYJB7sndDj3GEbXGyQXPeq40KW3GmUAlyuatanaJ2ilYN6HDyKEJDRotj1LAUgtCjywoRAc4g0mhqYnyToSyVM7AI76FaTQZB5BW2xiHQAgrq3D9TBck~TVFOV0ByIZnfM-~tUrgGZNZU96Oc5OSqqljv4tDlHrp3dI4Qzxh33kqn3EZtRKOOFIlSPnTiRm4wYlndDN3tkKbStd-nCTdQs0AdYlwOa2gB~AWPJzUyf520zYGlpc2rhnNTyBESOWPEn2bXJ0Zf6wS-A5RAmV6TM6Xh3oAH6tbTComP2YScDpSipNHujrKOY~T0AcbEUpbrkSLHfg2V~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Zoo staff told the Idaho Falls City Council that they have responded to a range of concerns raised during a multi‑day Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation inspection and will present their formal responses to the AZA commission at an upcoming hearing.

David Pinnock, the zoo's executive director, and Katie Berry, general curator, summarized inspection findings the AZA inspectors classified as prior concerns, major concerns and lesser concerns. Major items listed by staff included (1) completion of filtration hookups for the penguin and otter pools, (2) expanded indoor space for a large Aldabra tortoise now moved into the new islands exhibit, (3) a staffing/rotation issue in the primate building that temporarily created a three‑group rotation and limits outdoor access for some individuals, and (4) veterinary‑coverage communications and relief‑veterinarian protocols.

Pinnock described the accreditation process: a lengthy application; a three‑day on‑site inspection; a post‑inspection report of concerns; and a scheduled commission hearing where commission members will ask questions and issue accreditation decisions. He said the zoo has already completed or substantially addressed several items from the inspector list and has prepared formal written responses for the commission.

Berry explained the primate concern in detail: after the staff separated individuals for animal‑welfare reasons, the building temporarily contains three groups in one suite, which requires a longer rotation and means some animals spend more time in holding than under ideal conditions. Staff are pursuing three avenues: (a) working with Species Survival Plan (SSP) partners to transfer species when appropriate, (b) identifying sanctuary or accredited facilities that could take the non‑SSP gray gibbons, and (c) reconfiguring other group assignments when the islands exhibit opens and frees up space. Berry said the zoo is continuing outreach to SSP programs and accredited partners and will present a mitigation plan to the AZA commission.

On veterinary coverage, Berry and Pinnock told the council that current contract arrangements were being strengthened and that a new contract is in preparation to provide more on‑site veterinary days without increasing the zoo's budget. Staff also described incremental fixes for recordkeeping, medication labeling, enrichment planning and maintenance scheduling. The inspectors had requested a clearer maintenance plan and more detailed enrichment documentation; staff said those documents were prepared and included in the zoo's formal response.

Councilors asked several operational questions, including how the new filtration changed penguin pool water‑change frequency (staff said full dump/refill cycles have gone from every two days toward weekly, with a goal of monthly or less as the filtration regimen is optimized) and whether treated water could be reused for irrigation (staff said reuse is being explored and civil engineers are assisting with longer‑term plans). Council members praised zoo staff for the new islands facility and for the quality of animal‑care staff.

Pinnock said the accreditation commission meeting is scheduled for the coming Sunday and the commission will decide on accreditation after a brief hearing. The council expects a follow‑up focus report on the zoo and parks divisions at a future work session that will include attendance and financial metrics and proposed capital needs.","Zoo leadership briefed the City Council on findings from an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) inspection and their responses, including completed filtration work for the penguin pool, expanded tortoise housing in the new islands exhibit, plans to address primate rotation and veterinary coverage, and other facility and recordkeeping updates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Idaho Falls council upholds board of adjustment ruling that alfalfa field violated R‑1 zoning

City staff to adopt 2023 state electrical code update; contractors to get training

Idaho Falls Zoo readies responses after AZA accreditation inspection; council briefed on fixes