May 8, 2024 (Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, May 3, 2024)
Pocatello–Did you know the City of Pocatello has been working toward a large annexation project and prepared a city-initiated annexation and zoning application to annex and zone property (approximately 506 acres) along S. 5th Avenue by early June?
Last night (05/01/24), the Planning and Zoning Commission DENIED the City’s application in a 5-1 vote.
Of those members of the public in attendance, no one spoke in favor of the annexation.
The primary reasons given by the City’s P & Z Commissioners for the denial were the publics’ request that the City wait until SB1293 (a revised law) goes into effect on 07/01/24 and other concerns about the publics’ perception with boundary changes made to the original annexation plan. It seemed that most of the Commission members were in favor of the annexation overall and anticipated it would be annexed at some point.
MORE INFORMATION will be posted in the days to come. Senate Bill 1293, characterized as a “PROPERTY OWNER FRIENDLY BILL”, makes some changes (eff. 07/01/24) to the existing annexation statute.
***The public should be aware that the City, including Representative/Councilman Cheatum (28A) OPPOSED the bill. Other local representatives opposing the bill were: Guthrie (28); Ruchti (29); Harris (35); Manwaring (29A); Roberts (29B); Wheeler (35B). Those in favor: Andrus (35A); Garner (28B)
