Council President Lurek and the Pocatello City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance rezoning the south half of property at 155 Willard from Commercial General (CG) to Residential Medium Density Single Family (RMS).

The rezone request was presented at a public hearing after the applicant, Brandon DeFosse, told the council he plans to buy the infill lot and build a single‑family home. Jim Anglesey, the city’s long‑range planner, told the council the parcel is currently split‑zoned (north half RMS, south half CG), that the rezone would make the zoning uniform and would align with the city’s future land use map, and that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at a Dec. 11, 2024 hearing. Anglesey said staff finds the request complies with the criteria in city code section 170217(e).

Why it matters: Making the lot uniformly residential removes the need for a property owner to seek individual rezoning to build a house in an otherwise residential area, and it brings the zoning map into closer alignment with the city’s future land use plan.

Council members asked whether the CG designation had been carried over in error across several blocks; Anglesey acknowledged there are multiple blocks in the city with similar split or unexpected commercial designations and said staff can pursue broader map adjustments in the future. The public hearing drew no written correspondence and no public testimony in favor, opposed, or uncommitted.

Action: Council member Mansfield moved to approve the application and to proceed with preparing a decision and an ordinance in support of the rezone; Council member Paulson seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all voting members recorded as yes.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the formal decision and ordinance consistent with the council’s direction. If adopted, the ordinance will change the south half of the property at 155 Willard from CG to RMS and unify the parcel under residential zoning.