Commission approves two pavement variances and approach permits with conditions

Duchesne County commissioners on Dec. 8 approved variance requests and approach permits tied to two preliminary plats, while directing planning staff to fix inconsistent code language before future approvals.

Planning staff explained that the planning commission had recommended approval of the preliminary plats but had not approved a variance to the county paving requirement; staff cited sections of the subdivision code (9-6-1 and 9-6-2) and said the code language introduced during an earlier amendment left ambiguity about when private roads could be built to wildland-urban-interface standards rather than full county paving.

After debate over whether to declare a moratorium, commissioners approved an individual variance for The Ranches at Pinion Ridge Phase 7 "to not pave the road" so long as the developer meets approach-permit requirements and grade/pavement stipulations. The commission also approved a conditional variance for Great Basin Estates (Base 6) with similar conditions. Both motions passed by voice vote.

Commissioners asked the planning division to draft ordinance language to resolve the conflicting provisions in the subdivision code and to submit the cleanup to the planning commission for prompt review. Staff noted that HB 368 (cited in the hearing) affects when a county may require hearings or re-notification for certain variance reconsiderations.

The commission approved the specific approach permits presented at the meeting and directed staff to return with corrected ordinance language to reduce future ambiguity.

What’s next: planning staff will draft clarifying ordinance language and present it to the planning commission and then the county commission for formal adoption.