Planning commission delays Wicker Subdivision Lot 10 plat amendment after easement issue

The Eastern Summit County Planning Commission on Monday moved to continue a public hearing on a plat amendment for Wicker Subdivision Lot 10 after staff identified an unrecorded access easement that affects the lot’s legal access.

Laura, a county staff member, told commissioners a public comment and subsequent record review showed the access easement drawn on the proposed plat serves Lot 9, not Lot 10, and crosses Parcel CD672A3. “Part of the easement, access easement that was shown on the plat amendment is not for this specific lot,” she said, adding that the applicant had been notified and was working with the neighboring property owner to secure and record the needed easement.

Staff said it could not recommend approval while the required easement across the adjacent parcel remained unrecorded. “So, staff is requesting that we continue it, open a public hearing and continue it to February 1,” Laura said.

Commissioners discussed whether the lot could rely on existing legal access from Escalante Loop instead of the historically used Carson Lane/Underview Road. A commissioner noted Escalante Loop appears to touch both lots but said the route is “very wooded” and may be impractical because of steep terrain and trees; staff confirmed the fire department and engineers had preferred access on the existing road network. Staff emphasized that while legal access by right may exist from Escalante, the applicant preferred to secure a recorded easement to continue using Carson Lane.

After no public commenters stepped forward, the commission voted to continue the hearing to Feb. 1 to allow the applicant time to negotiate and record the easement.

The continuance leaves the plat amendment unresolved pending the neighboring parcel owner’s agreement and recording of the easement; the item will return to the commission on Feb. 1 for further consideration.