Payette council OKs new subdivision

By JESSICA KELLER - ARGUS OBSERVER
Tuesday, July 3, 2007 11:14 AM PDT

PAYETTE - The Payette City Council approved the annexation of property and a preliminary plat for a planned subdivision during Monday night’s regular council meeting.

The property annexation, requested by Montesa Development, Inc., Nampa, includes seven acres of land situated north of Seventh Avenue North and west of U.S. Highway 95.

The property Montesa Development Inc., plans to develop will be used for a new residential subdivision and commercial property.

The development is planned for three phases, and some of the property the council approved annexing will be developed in future phases.

The plat application the council approved is intended for the first phase of the Montesa Subdivision and includes 25 lots on 7.44 acres of land, Amy Woodruff, project engineer said. The entire project, once complete, will feature 70 residences and two commercial developments that border U.S. Highway 95.

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Woodruff said the commercial aspects will be included in future phases as details are still being ironed out.

Along with the plat agreement, the council also granted a right-of-way variance from 60 feet to 50 feet, except for property on North 15th Street. The reduction in right of way allows property owners to extend their property lines closer to the streets but does not affect the street design, Woodruff said.

“It really doesn’t benefit the city to own that additional right of way on local roads,” she said.

The council also approved the creation of a temporary cul-de-sac within the development, with the stipulation that the cul-de-sac is paved within five years if a planned road at the end of the area does not get extended south as intended.

In other council business:

p The City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance creating a municipal airport commission. Payette Mayor Doug Henderson said while an airport advisory committee has already been established, the ordinance will officially recognize the committee and appoint members to the commission.

According to ordinance language, the commission will consist of five members. Two of the members may be residents of rural Payette County, with one appointed by the Payette County Commissioners so long as an agreement is established between the city and the county for financial contributions to the airport. The commission members are charged with a number of duties including: proposing rules and regulations to the council regarding airport operations; proposing plans for future growth and development of the airport; executing airport ground leases and “through the fence airport access agreements;” advising the city on progress of airport developments and the availability of grants; proposing a fee schedule for airport uses and collecting those fees.

The ordinance also included language adopting minimum standards for fixed base operators and airport tenants in order to promote “orderly development of our airport,” according to the staff report.

While Ivan Mussell asked City Clerk Mary Cordova whether the ordinance could be adopted in one reading, the council opted to have more than one at the recommendation of city staff and the airport advisory committee.

“Mr. Mayor, I sure don’t want to stop progress here, but I’m a little hesitant to railroad this through,” Payette City Councilman Jeff Williams said, adding he wants to provide more time for the public to comment.

o The City Council also approved increasing the city’s water and sewer rates 4 percent based on U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor and Statistics data, consumer price index, pursuant to city code allowing for such a move. According to the city report, the change in the index for 2006 was 4.87 percent, and the estimated change through July 2007 was 4.3 percent. This means the base rate for a standard 3/4 inch water meter will increase from $4.97 to $5.17, and the usage fee will increase from $.177 to $.184. The sewer rates will increase from a $12.60 base rate and 2 cent usage fee to a $13.10 base rate.

The rate increases will boost the water fund revenue $26,720 and the wastewater fund revenue $46,224.

Williams said, considering the financial woes the city’s sewer department is suffering from, wouldn’t it be wiser to increase the rates more than 4 percent? Henderson told him the council is set to review sewer fees at the end of July.