Planning commission approves 5,621-square-foot addition to High Valley Transit maintenance building

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve an amendment to a conditional use permit and the development agreement for High Valley Transit that authorizes a 5,621-square-foot addition to the agency’s bus maintenance building.

Staff said the original master-plan approval (February 2022) included an 11,000-square-foot maintenance facility, a 31,000-square-foot bus parking garage and an 18,000-square-foot administrative building. GSBS Architects presented the request to add two maintenance bays at the approved campus located off Highway 40.

Jennifer Strader, senior county planner, told commissioners the applicant must update the development agreement before a building permit is issued so the agreement reflects the amended site plan and square footage. Commissioners also asked staff to make explicit in the findings that planned workforce-housing units will be constructed as part of Phase 1 rather than Phase 2; the motion included that clarification.

Scott Henrickson of GSBS Architects said the new bays are sized to service either electric or gas buses and that the transit agency plans an eventual transition to a fully electric fleet. "Each bay is capable of servicing either electric or gas powered vehicles at this point. Eventually the transition will be made to full electric," Henrickson told the commission.

A commissioner moved approval based on the findings of fact, conclusions of law and conditions of approval in the staff report, with the clarification about workforce housing. The motion was seconded, and the roll-call vote recorded seven ayes and zero noes. The commission recorded the outcome as a unanimous approval, 7–0.

Next procedural step: staff will prepare the amended development agreement for signature and the applicant may pursue building permits once the agreement is updated.