Rexburg Plans For Future As City Grows

One city in the upper valley is looking to expand to meet the rising population.

With the population of the City of Rexburg expected to double in the coming years, city leaders said there’s no better time to start planning for the future than now. City Council and members of the planning and zoning committee met Wednesday morning to discuss planning within the city.

“We’re really a small city facing big city challenges because of the rapid growth, so what we’re trying to do is make sure that we’re being effective,” said Scott Johnson, economic director for the City of Rexburg.

Members of the planning and zoning committee said that while the target market for the area is college students, there’s a growing number of working professionals who developers also need to keep in mind.

“There’s always that balancing act and what we try to do is make sure that we’re weighing both of those and understanding what the growth is, what causes it and then making sure residents understand that as well,” said Johnson.

City leaders said the primary developmental goal for Rexburg is taking full advantage of space within city limits. It is estimated that Rexburg’s population increases by about 1,000 people annually.

Johnson said the purpose of Wednesday’s meeting was solely for discussion and that no action has been taken yet. The city will hold another meeting, which is open to the public, on April 19 at 6 p.m. at Rexburg City Hall.