Council reviews proposed future land use map and explains changes to area-of-city-impact rules

City planning staff presented four maps to the council showing the city limits, the currently adopted area of city impact (AOI), and a proposed future land use map with suggested adjustments. Staff said most zones align but identified five small parcels where the future land use designation differs from current zoning and recommended those be corrected or subjected to further public review.

Staff explained some parcels were proposed to shift to general industrial to reflect existing larger businesses that exceed current industrial-floor thresholds; another city-owned parcel currently zoned industrial was proposed as higher-density residential to provide potential revenue by sale. Councilmembers questioned a few of the changes and emphasized that substantial rezones or future land use amendments will require additional public outreach.

Staff and council also discussed recent Idaho legislative changes that require cities and counties to redraw area-of-city-impact boundaries and remove shared-tier AOI arrangements. Staff repeatedly told the public that being within an AOI does not automatically annex properties, does not change tax status, and does not grant the city unilateral veto power over county-controlled land-use actions; the county retains final land-use authority for unincorporated property unless and until an owner petitions for annexation.

Council emphasized the need for public hearings and invited residents to review maps posted on the city's website; staff said the proposed AOI map will go to the county on the 18th for county-level consideration and encouraged public attendance.

What's next: staff will bring future land use amendments back for public comment and workshop review as the council directs, and will proceed with statutory AOI processes with the county.