North Idaho rep wants cities to back off design review rules – Tue, 18 Feb 2014 PST

BOISE City design review rules would all become voluntary, under legislation being pushed by a North Idaho lawmaker, and developers in Idaho couldnt be told to make structural changes in buildings theyre proposing just for esthetic reasons. Weve got to allow participants in a market to act like a market, to reflect choice, Rep. Ed Morse, R-Hayden, told the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday. His comments followed more than two hours of testimony both for and against the bill, with cities, local planning officials, architects and others opposing the bill, and business interests including the Idaho

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BOISE City design review rules would all become voluntary, under legislation being pushed by a North Idaho lawmaker, and developers in Idaho couldnt be told to make structural changes in buildings theyre proposing just for esthetic reasons.

Weve got to allow participants in a market to act like a market, to reflect choice, Rep. Ed Morse, R-Hayden, told the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday. His comments followed more than two hours of testimony both for and against the bill, with cities, local planning officials, architects and others opposing the bill, and business interests including the Idaho Retailers Association backing it.

On a divided voice vote, the panel approved the bill, HB 480, and sent it to the full House for debate. Morse acknowledged after the meeting that both the cities of Hayden and Coeur dAlene oppose his bill, but said property owners in his district support it.

The measure is the latest version of a concept Morse has been working on for some time, initially spurred by the city of Boises design review requirements on a new multi-story state parking garage thats being built near the state Capitol, in a designated historic district of mostly residential buildings.

Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur dAlene, thanked Morse for bringing the bill. I have several commercial buildings in the town that I live in, said Sims, a car dealer. She said one is more than 40 years old but has had four additions; the other is four years old, and shes faced substantial costs due to city requirements.

Ive had to add 643 feet of sidewalk that nobody has ever stepped a foot on theres no sidewalk leading to it or leading from it, Sims said. I have 20 trees that shade absolutely nothing. I have grassy swales that take up 20 parking spaces.

She said, I think some control and some concern for the property owners and the businesses that may or may not come to your community is critically important.

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North Idaho rep wants cities to back off design review rules - Tue, 18 Feb 2014 PST