Planning commission approves permit for small addition at 5672 North Kingsford Road

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission on Jan. 13 voted unanimously to approve a conditional-use permit allowing a small addition to a nonconforming house at 5672 North Kingsford Road in the Silver Summit neighborhood.

Tiffany Robinson, senior planner, told commissioners the 0.15-acre lot was platted in 1983 and many homes there predate current setback rules. Robinson said the rural residential zone requires a 30-foot front setback and 12-foot side setbacks and that the existing dwelling sits about 4 feet from the north side property line and roughly 23 feet from the front. Robinson said the applicant proposes to shift the garage forward with living space above but would not exceed the existing roof height or introduce windows that would overlook the neighboring property. "This existing dwelling is on the north boundary... currently 4 feet from that side property line," Robinson said, and staff noted the applicant moved the garage back slightly to just over 6 feet to meet at least 50% of the zone-required setback.

Robinson said staff mailed notice to roughly 148 parcels within 1,000 feet, received one information request but no written opposition, and recommended approval "given the criteria outlined in the staff report" including the findings of fact, conclusions of law and conditions of approval.

A nearby resident, Theron Miller, who said he lives about two houses down, told the commission he supported the proposal and that neighbors have made similar changes in the past: "I say go for it," Miller said.

Commissioners discussed only a procedural concern about the Zoom link provided in the posted agenda; Commissioner Cook said the link in the agenda differed from the meeting link and that she had to request the correct connection from staff. Staff said alternate ways to attend existed and noted they would check the notice link.

Commissioner Thomas Kucera moved to approve the conditional-use permit "according to the findings of fact, conclusions of law and conditions of approval found in the staff report," the motion was seconded, and the commission carried the motion in a roll-call vote with votes recorded as aye by Commissioner Cook, Commissioner Hubler, Commissioner Hawley, Commissioner Kucera and the chair. The permit was approved.

The decision authorizes the specific expansion shown in the staff materials under the conditions listed in the staff report. The commission did not adopt any code changes; one commissioner suggested in future years the county could consider whether some low-impact expansions might be handled administratively, but staff said the current code requires public hearing for additional uses and that changing that approach would require a code amendment.

The commission moved on after recording the approval and handling remaining procedural business.