Planning commission tables Terry Griffiths zone-change request, asks for narrower rewrite

The Orderville Planning and Zoning Commission on March 25 tabled a zone-change application from Terry Griffiths that sought to rezone three parcels (0-6-13, 0-6-14 and 0-6-15) from Single-family Residential R1A to Commercial C1, sending it back for corrected wording and to return to the commission next month.

Chair (label 1) opened a public hearing and explained the application was intended to make the existing driveway part of the store property so future lot-line adjustments would be clean. Chair noted a related 2012 action had converted only a 30-foot strip at the back of the properties for parking rather than rezoning the whole lots.

Terry Griffiths, the applicant and property owner, described the parcel history and said rezoning the drive would simplify future lot-line adjustments. Commissioners examined lot sizes and zoning thresholds, noting R1 (about 9,000 sq ft) and that at least one parcel was below that standard. The commission debated whether to pursue variances for undersized lots or to rezone partially, with several members saying rezoning only the portion that contains the driveway would be simpler for the applicant.

Leticia (label 3) asked whether a granted variance would run with the land; Chair replied, "Once the variance is granted, it's permanent … it goes with the land." Commissioners suggested that any variance requests be handled by the Board of Adjustment rather than by planning and zoning directly.

Commission members coalesced behind a revised approach: reword the application so parcel 14 would be rezoned to commercial to capture the driveway, parcel 15 would be changed to R-1, and parcel 13 would be removed from the application. Chair summarized the practical goal: "I recommended to Terry that he go for commercial like he did before because that makes his lot line adjustments absolutely squeaky clean."

Committee member (label 5) moved to table the application pending the recommended corrections; Leticia seconded the motion. The commission voted by voice to table the item and place the corrected application on next month's agenda. Chair noted the town council will review any recommendation the commission forwards.

The commission did not take a final vote on rezoning at the March 25 meeting; commissioners asked staff to prepare revised language consistent with the commission's guidance and to return the item at the next regular meeting.