The purpose of the recreation district is to encourage a compatible blend of recreation and tourist uses with public recreational uses in such a way as to preserve Bannock County's recreational resources.

(Ord. 1998-1 § 341)

When considering designating land to the REC district, that land must meet the following criteria: the land is not suitable for agricultural uses; is adjacent to land already used for recreational purposes; is not environmentally sensitive; is not an important habitat for wildlife; and additional improved county arterial or collector roads would not need to be provided.

(Ord. 1998-1 § 342)

With staff review and approval of site plan (Article III of Chapter 17.56), permitted uses in the REC district include:

A.

Uses permitted in the RS district;

B.

Outdoor recreational uses, such as skiing, tennis, stables, golf courses, commercial skating rinks, parks and swimming pools, and the like;

C.

Uses which are accessory to the principal permitted uses listed above.

(Ord. 1998-1 § 343)

Uses conditionally permitted in the REC district include:

A.

Uses conditionally permitted in the RS district;

B.

Indoor entertainment and commercial uses permitted in CG districts, except as shown on use chart, Section 17.48.010. Such uses include hotels, inns, indoor recreational activities such as bowling alleys, theaters, skating rinks, parks, dry cleaning shops, restaurants, R.V. parks, campgrounds, gift shops, and gas stations accessory to a commercial recreational facility;

C.

Public utility facilities, excluding distribution and service lines;

D.

Mining;

E.

Nonhunting uses that involve firearms;

F.

Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks.

Because no list of uses can be complete, decisions on specific uses will be rendered by the office of planning and development services with appeal to the planning and development council available to the applicant.

(Ord. 1998-1 § 344)

( Ord. No. 2015-5 , § 1, 11-25-15)

All new nonresidential construction within the recreation district shall conform to the following standards:

A.

Existing attractive and healthy trees with trunk diameters of eight or more inches shall be preserved, unless they are in conflict with proposed building locations, create safety hazards, or are excluded from the planning and zoning department's list of approved trees. Site plans shall be arranged so that suitable trees can be saved wherever possible. Tree removal plans shall be reviewed by the above department for compliance with this section. If a suitable tree is found to have been removed in violation of this section, the property owner shall replace it with one or two trees, as determined by the planning director, at least twelve (12) feet in height for conifers or at least two inches caliper in diameter for deciduous trees.

B.

Site development will avoid unnecessary disturbance of ground so as to maintain existing native plant species, inhibit weed growth, and abate dust.

C.

Landscaped yards with full vegetative ground cover shall conform to the standards for the residential suburban district in terms of dimension. The rear yard requirement may be reduced by fifty (50) percent if it abuts a commercial or industrial use. Front areas to be landscaped may be crossed by access drives or exits and sidewalks, but may not otherwise be paved. All landscaping must be maintained in a healthy, growing condition and conform to the following additional requirement:

Landscaped yard areas shall contain at least one canopy tree for each fifty (50) feet of lot width or length for the business in question. This shall be in addition to the landscaping required for the parking area of the building in question.

D.

Reserved.

E.

Site plans shall be designed in such manner that they minimize the traffic impact of nonresidential uses on local residential roads.

F.

Buildings and their appurtenances shall be oriented to limit conflicts with surrounding residential uses due to noise, light, litter or dust.

G.

Where a nonresidential use abuts a residential use, the following standards shall be complied with concerning development of the nonresidential use:

1.

The developer of any nonresidential use shall provide, between the residential use or district and the developed portion of the non-residential use, a minimum of fifty (50) foot landscaped buffer (see Section 17.52.520.) It shall count as the required yard. All required buffer areas shall meet the requirements set forth in Sections 17.52.310 and 17.52.320.

2.

Fences, whose design and materials shall be approved by the planning director, shall be erected and thereafter maintained along residential property lines to provide privacy and to prevent the intrusion of unwanted light, dust, or blowing debris.

3.

Mechanical equipment must be screened to limit its visibility from neighboring residential uses and residentially zoned lands.

4.

Noise-producing mechanical equipment must be located at least fifty (50) feet from any common property line with residential uses and residentially zoned lands.

5.

Lighting of the site shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height and shall be directed away from residences, or residentially zoned land in the vicinity of the site.

6.

Openings in buildings and activity centers on sites shall be located to minimize interference with residential uses.

7.

Drainage from buildings and parking lot areas shall be detained on-site and shall be directed away from residential land which abuts nonresidential uses.

8.

Loading and delivery entrances shall be located away from the interface with residential uses or zoning and shall be screened to prevent the intrusion of the nonresidential activities into the adjacent residential neighborhood.

(Ord. 1998-1 § 345)

( Ord. No. 2013-2 , § 1, 3-20-13; Ord. No. 2016-3 , § 1, 5-4-16)

The following methods of subdividing are permitted in the REC zone:

A.

Open space designed subdivision (Section 16.28.010 of subdivision ordinance, Title 16 of this code) with density of one dwelling per acre. Open space designed subdivisions are required if twenty-five (25) percent or more of the subdivision is above five thousand (5,000) feet elevation, or if the proposed subdivision includes important wildlife habitat.

Applicant may seek design deviations with regard to sewage treatment facilities and water delivery systems.

B.

Conventional (When at least seventy-five (75) percent of the area to be subdivided is below five thousand (5,000) feet elevation). One acre minimum lot size. Such lots will be restricted from further division, and the plat and deeds shall so reflect. Lots may not be further divided and plat and deeds must so indicate.

C.

Planned Unit Developments.

1.

Planned unit developments may be proposed in the REC district for uses permitted within the district.

2.

Design deviations may be applied to building bulk and placement requirements. Planned unit developments net density may be up to seven times greater than that which is permitted in the REC district.

3.

Minimum size for a planned unit development in the REC district shall be ten acres and the maximum size is one hundred (100) lots or dwelling units and one hundred (100) acres.

D.

All subdivisions on a city boundary must be annexed into that city which has designated that land to be within its area of city impact. In the event the city declines, in writing, to annex the development, the county shall hear the application in accordance with its area of impact agreement with the city, or Idaho Code shall apply if none exists.

(Ord. 1998-1 § 346)

(Ord. No. 2008-4, § 1, 12-18-08; Ord. No. 2013-2 , § 1, 3-20-13)

The following table sets forth the building bulk and placement standards for the REC district:

RECREATION DISTRICT
Minimum Setbacks (feet) ⁽¹⁾

Conditional uses: To be determined by the planning and development council.

Notes:

⁽¹⁾  Setbacks. All structures shall be one hundred (100) feet from any stream or riparian area, with the exception of approved culverts which comply with all requirements of the Bannock County Office of Planning and Development Services, as well as any other recognized jurisdiction.

^(a)  One acre minimum lot area; larger lot sizes may be required by the health department.

^(b)  Or height of building, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 1998-1 § 347)

( Ord. No. 2013-2 , § 1, 3-20-13; Ord. No. 2014-1 , § 1, 5-28-14; Ord. No. 2018-06 , § 1, 3-27-18)