Commission approves small Trailside Elementary expansion; crosswalk and code review to follow

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional-use permit for a modest addition to Trailside Elementary School, accepting staff’s findings and conditions and noting follow-up steps for safety and code compliance.

Senior planner Amir Kass described the proposal as a small addition flanked by a soccer field and existing facility, intended to support pre‑K services. Kass told commissioners that while the county cannot compel broad road changes on existing county roads, staff has been working with public works and the school district to fund and install a crosswalk adjacent to the school. He estimated a not-to-exceed contribution around $20,000 for a crosswalk but said the amount could be significantly less depending on design and that state and capital budgets will affect timing.

The owner representative, identifying himself as Simmons, said the expansion is small — "it's just a simple, you know, 5,500 square foot addition plus an interior remodel that is in support of their pre k services" — and that the district is willing to contribute toward a crosswalk.

Commissioners raised safety and traffic concerns. Commissioner Hubler and others asked whether the commission can require compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2021; staff and the applicant said school projects undergo state-level code review and that the applicant would share the state code-review documents with the county. "IECC is the International Energy Conservation Code as adopted by the state of Utah," one commissioner explained during the discussion to clarify the code referenced.

Commissioner Hawley moved to approve the Trailside Elementary CUP pursuant to the staff report; the motion was seconded. Commissioner Nagy stated an employment relationship with the school district and recused herself from the vote. The motion passed in the record as 5–2 (with the recusal noted). Staff said it will continue coordination on sidewalks, crosswalks, and staging; the applicant confirmed construction staging will be limited to the immediate addition site and that the ball field will remain available.

Next steps: the applicant will proceed with state project-number and code review processes and provide the county with relevant code‑review documentation; staff will continue to pursue near-term crosswalk work in partnership with the district and public works.