Planning commission approves Mountain Regional Water campus plan, citing operational consolidation

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission on Nov. 14 approved a conditional use permit and master plan development for Mountain Regional Water to build a service campus including an 11,000-square-foot administration building, a roughly 13,000-square-foot shop, and a roughly 13,000-square-foot covered material storage area.

Planner Jennifer Strater told commissioners the proposal, sited in the FJ Gilmore subdivision adjacent to the High Valley Transit facility, meets applicable setbacks, parking and height limits and satisfies the county’s master plan development criteria that apply when buildings exceed 10,000 square feet. "Given that, staff would recommend that the planning commission conduct a public hearing and vote to approve this conditional use permit and master plan development based on the findings of that conclusions of law and conditions that are in the staff report," Strater said.

A representative for Mountain Regional explained the project is intended to consolidate dispersed equipment and operations across the district — providing space to wash vehicles, store materials, and maintain trucks and pipelines — rather than to house a constant overnight workforce. The applicant said the administration building is sized for current staff (about 31 employees) with room for a few additional positions and space designed to allow a future expansion.

Architect Ken Weeden of CRSA described energy-efficiency planning for the site, saying the design uses the state’s high-performance building standards as a baseline and includes infrastructure for four electric-vehicle charging spaces and a roof configured to accommodate future photovoltaic panels. He said a full rooftop solar installation is not included now because of cost, but that the building envelope and conduit are being designed to support later installation.

Commissioners also discussed a voluntary conservation garden on the site’s upper corner that the applicant said would be planted gradually with native, water-wise species in accordance with county landscape guidance, and clarified parking: code requires 38 stalls and the site provides 46, with extra stalls intended for customer transactions and snow storage.

After discussion a commissioner moved to approve the application per the staff findings and conditions; the motion was seconded and the commission took a roll-call vote. John, Thomas, Diane, DJ, Chris and the chair each voted "Aye," and the motion passed unanimously.

The approval authorizes the land-use permits; building permits and remaining service-provider requirements must be completed and verified by county staff during the permit process.