Garden City Planning Commission

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah. December 6, 2016. At the beginning of the New Year, a new chairman and vice chairman were selected by the Commission.  Lance Bourne was asked to continue as chairman and Susan House was selected to continue as vice chairman.

Jake Weeks, the owner of Jake’s Place, appeared before the Commission.  He requested approval of architectural standards and plans for remodeling his business.  He has been working with the commercial building inspector and the fire chief to make sure he is following all of their requirements.  He is making a deck on the east side of his restaurant.  It will have an opening on the north with a railing of wood slats around the deck.  He is going to build a drive-through with an ingress/egress from the north off Highway 89.  The Commission approved the deck and other changes except for the ingress/egress area.  That matter will need to be taken to UDOT since that corner is such a busy area during the summer months.

Bob Peterson asked for approval on an ordinance updating the commercial zone and an ordinance updating the residential estates/agricultural zone.   It was noted that both of these ordinances allow certain types of businesses and that the list of those types of businesses needed to be changed.  Peterson indicated that he will bring the updated ordinances before the Commission at the next meeting if his suggestions are approved.  The Council approved his suggestions.

It was noted that there are a couple of subdivisions currently being considered.  The developers have property that is on both sides of the highway.  Even though the road goes through the middle, both parts of the property can be considered part of the same project.

Several people in town have noted that there are no designated wet lands within Garden City.   Mayor Spuhler said that there are wet lands within the City.  Whenever there is a question about whether an area is a wet land or not, it should be turned over to the Army Corp. of Engineers, and not be left to individuals to make such determinations.

It was noted that there were 52 building permits issued in Garden City this past year.  Several homes are currently being built, even though it is winter.  Contractors are glad to have work and are moving forward.

There are 400 acres of school trust lands above Garden City. These acres could be developed.  They have come up with four different conceptual plans.  The property is divided by the highway.  They have come up with what is known as a nature side where there would be trails, a ski area, and walking paths.  The other area would contain cluster homes.  The City will be involved in helping develop the nature side and will be given permanent easements to continue the development and usage of these areas.