Planning commission approves conversion of garage to dwelling at 6771 East Immigration Canyon Road

The Immigration Canyon Planning Commission on June 11 approved a conditional-use permit (CUP2025-001542) allowing the conversion of a detached garage at 6771 East Immigration Canyon Road into an upstairs dwelling, the commission said.

Planner Justin Smith told the commission the property is zoned FR 0.5 and measures about 1.08 acres; zoning allows two dwelling units on that parcel and the application meets the parking requirement of two spaces per dwelling. "The conditional use application is to change this detached garage into a dwelling," Justin Smith said during his presentation.

The commission heard technical questions about septic capacity and proximity to neighbor wells. Health staff granted conceptual approval but required more detailed septic and waste-load plans before a building permit could be issued; commissioners emphasized that health and building-department approvals must be completed. Commissioner concerns about wells and the alternative septic design led the commission to include a condition that all agency technical review comments be resolved.

Applicant Greg Palace said the long-term intention for the property is to convert the upstairs of the detached garage into a dwelling and eventually to rebuild the small 1957 primary home. "The long-term intention is also to rebuild the existing dwelling at some point down the line," Palace said.

The commission's approval included four conditions: (1) no cars may be parked in front of the garage that fronts Immigration Canyon Road; (2) the applicant must obtain a building permit for the garage remodel and conversion of the upstairs storage to a residential unit; (3) the applicant must resolve all technical-review comments from reviewing agencies (including health and building); and (4) the existing accessory structure on the hill (noted in the packet) shall not be used as a dwelling unit. Planner Justin Smith and staff clarified that the garage was previously permitted (PER2023-000837) with upstairs shown as storage and that converting it to a dwelling requires the building-permit process.

Vice motions were made and seconded; the commission voted verbally and the motion passed unanimously. After the vote Chair Tim Harps congratulated the applicant and closed the item. The applicant was reminded to resolve the outstanding technical comments before receiving a final building permit.