City and County
Vision, Code and Initiatives
Ashley Koehler, City of Driggs
Brittany Skelton, City of Victor
Jason Boal / Kristin Rader, Teton County
Teton Valley Business Summit – May 22, 2015
Teton Valley Land Use Code
project background
• Funding –
– The Model Code for the Teton View Region and the codes for Victor,
Driggs and Teton County were funded by the $1.5 million dollar
Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant awarded to
Fremont County.
• (aka “the HUD grant”; the grant was awarded through the HUD-EPA-DOT
Partnership for Sustainable Communities)
• Results –
– New code facilitates compact and walkable town centers by allowing
infill, mixed-uses, and accessory dwellings.
– New code Preserves agriculture and rural character in the county.
– Driggs, Victor, the County will have codes that share the same format,
organization, definitions.
– Driggs, Victor, and Teton County will have some of the most modern,
flexible, adaptable codes in the region and state.
Milestones toward adoption of new codes
November 2012- Present
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November 2012: Project launch with stakeholder meetings in the community
July-August 2013: Consulting team, led by Code Studio, held week long charrette in Teton
Valley, focus on downtown Victor & Driggs
November 2013: Code Studio presented Charrette Summary Report
May 2014: “Drictor”/Area of Impact charrette
May 2014: Code Studio delivered first draft chapters of new code – administration, building
types, districts for cities
Summer 2014: Open houses/information booths on draft code and code concepts at events
around Teton Valley
Fall 2014: Code Studio delivered additional draft code chapters, Planning and Zoning
Commissions began reviewing draft chapters and County began writing code chapters
January 2015: Code Studio held a Model Code Preview and Training session on how cities and
counties in the region can incorporate Model chapters into their codes
April 2015: Code Studio and local planners hosted an open house and training sessions on
new code
April 2015: Final version of the Model Code and final drafts for Driggs, Victor and County
delivered
Summer 2015: Planning and Zoning Commissions will revise and refine drafts, with public
input, to prepare code and maps for public hearings and subsequent adoption by governing
body
Feature of new code:
same format and organization for Driggs, Victor, and County
• Benefit for real estate agents,
businesses considering
relocating to Teton Valley,
property owners:
• Know one code, know them all.
• Easy to find the information
you need to know for each
jurisdiction.
• All three codes developed from
the same model, codes share
the same or similar definitions,
performance standards,
processes, etc.
Feature of new code:
graphics and illustrations
Feature of new code:
greater options for signage, illustrated
Feature of new code:
lively and active downtown encouraged
• Benefit: More windows/less
blank walls make a more
interesting and engaging
experience for pedestrians.
vs.
Feature of new code:
lively and active downtown encouraged
• Bike racks/bicycle parking
required for large multifamily projects, civic/public
spaces, and some
commercial and industrial
uses.
• Benefit:
– Encourages residents and
visitors on bikes to stop and
spend time in town or at
your business.
– Facilitates and builds upon
the active and healthy
lifestyle in Teton Valley.
Feature of new code:
more flexible options for mixed use development
• Existing Regulation:
Currently in Driggs’
Central Business District a
property owner needs a
Special Use Permit in
order to build a mixed
use building.
Feature of new code:
more flexible options for mixed use development
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Example: new Downtown Mixed
Use (DX) district
Intent: Allow residential use in
commercial districts, without
the need for a Special Use
Permit
Benefits:
– Build mixed use buildings
by-right – no special permit
needed
– More residences within
commercial districts means
more people (potential
customers and clients) in
walking distance to your
business
Feature of new code:
more flexible options for mixed use development
• Example: Industrial
Flex
• Intent:
Accommodate a
variety of light
industrial,
commercial and
residential uses.
• Benefits for property
owners:
– Start and develop a
cottage industry in
your own home
– Applicable in cities
and county
Feature of new code:
greater flexibility for home businesses / home occupations
• Existing Regulation:
Currently in Teton
County there is only
one classification for
home occupations
• Only one “nonresident” employee
allowed
Feature of new code:
greater flexibility for home businesses / home occupations
• Example: New code
has three
classifications for
home businesses.
• Benefit: More
flexibility, greater
options for
entrepreneurs in
cities and county to
start and grow a
business.
Feature of new code:
greater variety of light manufacturing / heavy commercial districts
• Example: New code
has greater options
for light
manufacturing.
• Benefit: Supports
Teton County
Economic
Development Plan
goal of encouraging
rec-tech, facilitates
increase in supply of
light manufacturing
spaces.
Feature of new code: Accessory Dwellings
Feature of new code: Accessory Dwellings
• Benefits for property owners:
– Accessory Dwellings are
allowed “by right” in many
districts.
– Build an accessory dwelling
unit it, rent it out for additional
income (or live in it and rent
out your main house).
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Benefits for business owners:
– Increase the supply of rental
housing in Teton Valley =
additional housing options for
your workforce.
Feature of new code:
Flexible Lot Sizes
• Existing Condition Example: Victor’s “Transitional
Business” zone requires a minimum lot size of 10,890
square feet (.25 acre). The proposed equivalent zone,
Neighborhood Mixed Use, has a minimum lot size of 7,000
square feet (.16 acre).
• Existing Condition Example: Victor’s “R1 – Residential
Single Family” zone requires a minimum lot size of 16,000
square feet (.36 acre), new R- districts could allow lots as
small as 3,000 or 5,000 square feet (0.07 acre or .11 acre).
• Benefits for property owners:
– Some lots that previously could not be split may now be able to
be split, in both mixed use and residential zones.
– Small scale subdivisions could be developed in city limits, with
smaller lots, small homes, and more affordable price points.
Interested in seeing Victor, Driggs and
Teton County adopt new codes?
• Your voice and your support is crucial for code adoption!
• Learn more about the new codes by reading a draft, or speaking with
your local Planner.
• Contact your elected officials to voice support for adoption of the new
codes.
• Attend public hearings and submit public comment.
• Be a champion for the new codes! Tell your colleagues, friends, and
neighbors about the benefits of the new code, and where they can get
more information.
Interested in learning more about the new codes?
Visit the newly created outreach + informational website:
www.tetonvalleycode.org
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Read or download drafts of the code for each jurisdiction
Read or download supplemental documents from each jurisdiction
Explore the interactive zoning map
Submit your comments on the codes
Find dates for upcoming public hearings, information meetings, etc.
Browse the archive of previous open houses and information sessions
Or contact your local Planner
Victor: Brittany Skelton – brittanys@victorcityidaho.com – 208-787-2940
Driggs: Ashley Koehler – akoehler@driggsidaho.org – 208-354-2362
Teton County: Jason Boal – jboal@co.teton.id.us – 208-354-2593
Work to Date / Adoption Timeline
• City of Victor
• Summer 2014 through February 2015 – Planning and Zoning Commission
reviewed draft chapters of code text
• February through May 2015 – P&Z, with public input, updated the
Comprehensive Plan Land Use chapter & map; adopted updated chapter and
map this Tuesday
• April 30th, 2015 – Final draft from consultant was delivered, staff is now
incorporating P&Z’s comments from prior discussions into a “public review
draft”
• June 2015 – P&Z will resume work sessions on code text at June meetings
• June/July 2015 – P&Z will draft a proposed zoning map at June/July meetings
• July 2015 – P&Z will hold a public hearing on the code text and zoning map
and give recommendation for adoption to City Council
• August 2015 – City Council will hold a public hearing to adopt new code and
map
• August 2015 – New code and map will be in effect