Planning commission gives positive approval to Elkhorn Springs Phase 1, sets engineering conditions

The Hideout Planning Commission voted to give a positive approval/recommendation for the Elkhorn Springs Phase 1 preliminary subdivision plan, subject to addressing engineering and planner staff comments.

Thomas (staff presenter) reviewed the Phase 1 proposal: an 8.971‑acre preliminary subdivision with internal zoning (R3, R6 and an NMU corner reserved for commercial), spine‑road improvements, townhomes, single‑family lots and dedicated open space. He said the commercial pad is reserved under the development agreement (MDA) and reverts to the town if not developed within the agreed timeframe.

Paul Watson, the applicant’s engineer who identified himself in the packet, explained technical design elements. He said the phase‑1 sewer will create the project backbone and tie into the existing sewer on Highway 248; road design follows town standards with 30 feet of asphalt in the 54‑foot right‑of‑way; sidewalks or a five‑foot pedestrian trail are planned on one side of every road; and stairways and cross‑trails will connect lots. On stormwater, Paul told the commission the design routes hard‑surface runoff into detention basins where pretreatment and small orifices ‘‘allow it out’’ over a 24‑hour period; pipe sizing was described as sized for a 100‑year storm at 80% capacity.

Commissioners and staff raised specific outstanding items from the engineering review (Dennis was not present): the drainage report and associated plans (staff asked that drainage documentation replicate historic drainage patterns and that pretreatment be addressed), clarification of who will maintain the pressurized sewer (applicant indicated JSSD would likely be responsible), limits of disturbance for construction, notation of stairways and widths on the plat (stairway common area noted at 12 feet; stair tread width to be clarified), and parking and mailbox locations for townhomes and public amenities. The applicant agreed to work with staff to provide the additional pages and documentation noted in the staff packet.

A motion to approve the preliminary subdivision plan with the listed additions from engineering and planner staff reviews carried after a second. The commission asked staff to make final approval contingent on resolution of the identified engineering items and to add plat notes and limits of disturbance as appropriate.

Why it matters: The approval advances infrastructure, public‑access and housing components of the Elkhorn Springs development while preserving staff and engineering review as conditions of final sign‑off. Drainage, traffic access from Highway 248 (UDOT access permit requirements were noted) and long‑term access planning remain open technical matters that must be satisfied before final subdivision approval.

What happens next: Applicant will provide outstanding engineering exhibits and drainage information; staff will verify sewer maintenance responsibility, limits of disturbance and parking/mailbox layouts and will return a revised plan for final administrative sign‑off per the town’s process.