Bonneville County approves agricultural protection area for 1036 East Lazy Lane

Bonneville County commissioners voted June 11 to approve an agricultural protection area for a property at 1036 East Lazy Lane in Idaho Falls, accepting staff findings and the agricultural protection area commission's recommendation.

Brad, the property owner and applicant, told the board the parcel consists of three contiguous lots totaling about 8.65 acres, with a residence, a year-round geothermal greenhouse, a chicken coop and space for livestock. "The reason I'm seeking the agricultural protection designation is so that we can continue to operate our property as an agricultural property to preserve that lifestyle for me and my grandchildren," he said.

Michelle Hagen, assistant director of Bonneville County Planning and Zoning, summarized staff review and the commission's recommendation, saying the application "complied with the criteria set forth" in the staff report and that the commission had recommended approval following its May 6 public hearing. Hagen noted that Public Works had submitted concerns about one of the parcels after the commission's hearing and that those comments were not part of the commission's earlier record.

Several neighbors spoke in support of the protection area but urged the board to weigh local safety and environmental concerns. Ralph Herbert, a resident of Lazy Lane, described an S-curve near his home that he said creates safety issues and detailed local wildlife observations, noting that Idaho Fish and Game has identified numerous protected and species-of-concern in the area and that there is an active bald eagle nest near the applicant's property. "This area is so unique in that Sand Creek comes down through it," Herbert said, arguing for careful documentation and avoidance of impacts to nesting pairs.

Jacob Connor and Ken Martin, neighboring property owners, also spoke in support of preserving agricultural use and described the presence of nesting raptors. Planning staff responded that the written findings and conclusions were available in the packet and that staff recommended approval of the agricultural protection area for all three parcels included in the application.

After public comment, a commissioner moved to accept the findings of fact, conclusions of law and the decision drafted for approval. The board voted and the chair announced the motion carried; staff confirmed the findings had been written to include all three parcels. The board discussed making the application process simpler for future applicants before adjourning.

The board's action states the application complies with Bonneville County zoning ordinance section 1-450 and an item of state code; the written decision was incorporated into the record. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or an exact tally beyond the chair's statement that the motion carried.