Public hearing tonight on Fox Crossing development

SHELLEY — The City Council will hear testimony from the public and developers on if they should approve a more than 350 home development.

In July, the Shelley City Council rejected the Anderson Hicks Group’s plan to build the Fox Crossing development on the East side of E. Center St., citing various concerns including the size of the lots and the city’s infrastructure. 

The Council has since decided to reconsider the proposed development and is holding a public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The only public hearing the Fox Crossing development received before being rejected was before the Planning and Zoning Board, which voted to approve the development.

“Fox Crossing has asked for our reconsideration. The City Council is granting them a public hearing so that they can see what they’re proposing, in person since we couldn’t go to the public hearing. So that we can base our decision off of what we see and what the facts are,” Shelley Mayor Stacy Pascoe told Community Pioneer.

Mike Hicks of the Anderson Hicks Group said that when the City Council denied the Fox Crossing plat, they didn’t reference any specific parts of the plat not meeting Shelley’s planning and zoning ordinances.

“There are some state statutory requirements that when a plat is declined they have to be very specific as to what aspects of the ordinances that the plat does not meet. And also specifically what needs to be done in order for the plat to be approved” Hicks told Community Pioneer.

Hicks said they didn’t receive either of those so they asked the City Council to reconsider.

“The fact of the matter is we’re looking to hear what their concerns are. We want to work with them in a positive way,” Kris Bertagnolli, one of the people behind the Fox Crossing development, said.

Pascoe said the City is willing to work with the Anderson Hicks Group, to a certain point.

“If they’re willing to negotiate to a certain point, we’re willing to negotiate to a certain point and every councilmember is going to have a different point,” Pascoe said.

The public is invited to attend tonight’s public hearing and voice their opinions. Community Pioneer will also stream the public hearing live on YouTube.