Shelley City Council decides against decorative boulders

Shelley — The new development along New Sweden Road needs some kind of barrier between it and the road; Tuesday, the city council decided it won’t be rocks.

During the Shelley City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, the council discussed the use of boulders instead of the planned chain-link fencing along New Sweden Road between Opal Ct. and Topaz Dr. The goal of the barrier is to prevent drivers along New Sweden Road from “hopping the curve.”

“I think the rocks would look a lot better,” Luke Bloxham, the developer, said.

Bloxham clarified that even though the rocks would cost him more than the fence, he thought the investment was worth it.

Councilman Earl Beattie made a point to caution the removal of the fence as it is a crime deterrent, to which Bloxham pointed out the lack of fencing on the other sides.

The Council voted down the measure to install architectural boulders four to one, with only Councilwoman Kim Westergard voting in favor.

One of the main reasons for rejecting the proposal to use boulders was public safety. The council worried that children would climb on them and potentially fall.

They also pointed out that developer across the street would be able to petition for the same boulders instead of a fence.

If that development were also permitted to use boulders, it being an apartment complex, children would have easy access to the the raod. from the back of the apartments.

The council asked Shelley Police Chief Rod Mohler for his opinion.

“For what it’s worth, for safety reasons all the way around, my opinion is the fence,†Mohler said.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting via Zoom, the City Council held a public hearing regarding raising sewer connection fees.

The Council voted unanimously increase the fees by $1,395, from $4,744 to $6,139.

Raising the sewer connection fees is meant to cover the costs of the Eastern Idaho Regional Wastewater Authority’s increased rates. Read more about the issue here.

The council also heard the Planning and Zoning Committee’s recommendations for annexing and re-zoning.

The committee will hold a public hearing Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom about rezoning four properties on the south side of 1300 North, and on the west side of 900 East, in Shelley. The Planning and Zoning Committee hopes to rezone the land from Single Family Dwellings to Residential Estate.

The committee will hold a work session at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The work session is open for public viewing.