Idaho Falls planners back starter-home rules and three annexations
The recommendations now go to the City Council; state law sets a Feb. 1, 2027 deadline for the starter-home rules.
IDAHO FALLS - The Idaho Falls Planning Commission voted Nov. 4 to recommend the city's proposed starter-home subdivision rules to the mayor and City Council, according to the meeting recording and agenda.
A state law, Senate Bill 1352, requires the city to have the rules in place by Feb. 1, 2027, the staff report says. The city's draft goes further than the state minimum in places: it allows starter-home subdivisions on 2 acres in certain zones rather than the 4 acres in state law, includes attached single-unit homes in some zones, sets a 10-foot rear setback instead of 15 feet and caps lot coverage at 80%.
Commissioners also recommended annexing about 2.709 acres north of W. 65th North for mixed residential zoning, about 4.122 acres west of S. 25th East for limited commercial zoning and about 5.25 acres of road right-of-way near E. 49th South and S. Holmes Avenue.
The commission found the proposed Skyline-Broadway urban renewal plan conforms with the city's comprehensive plan and acted on three final plats.
None of the recommendations is final until the council acts. Minutes have not been posted.
Source: Planning Commission agenda, Nov. 4, 2026, RZN26-008 staff report and meeting recording, City of Idaho Falls, read Nov. 11, 2026; votes checked against the Citizen Portal transcript.