Clearwater town council has approved a recommendation from staff that it remove a covenant on the property presently owned by Cal's Corner trailer and equipment rentals and replace it with a new but less restrictive covenant.
The property, which is located east of Raft River bridge between Highway 5 and Bain Road, was zoned light industrial in 1986 but with a covenant on it restricting land use to a tree nursery warehouse.
The current owner bought the property in 2013 without knowing the covenant was in place.
They proceeded to operate a trailers sales, rental and repair (with equipment rental) business.
Concerns were raised during a public hearing that simply removing the old covenant would open the land up to many uses under the light industrial zoning that might be incompatible with the surrounding rural reside residential neighbourhood.
Under the new covenant, which the owner must voluntarily register, the permitted use of the land would be limited to trailer and equipment sales, rentals and storage.
A view-obstructing fence would need to be installed and maintained around the equipment storage area as well.
Council made the decision during its Dec. 6 meeting.