Council approves Firelight MPDO modification clarifying roadway cross-sections and public access

The Toquerville City Council approved an ordinance on June 17 that authorizes a material modification to the Firelight MPDO and its development agreement, clarifying roadway cross-sections and the limits of city versus HOA maintenance.

Austin Chapel of American Consulting & Engineering, representing the Firelight developer, explained that the addendum better defines the city-owned right-of-way versus HOA-maintained landscaped areas. "They've separated those from the city right away," Chapel said, adding the change keeps the same asphalt widths, curbs and gutters while allowing the developer to build and maintain more elaborate trail and planter features that will be recorded in the CC&Rs and final plats.

Staff and council members confirmed the modification does not reduce pavement width or city-maintained travel lanes. Darren, a city planner, explained the existing 12-foot trail already constructed along Firelight Drive will remain, while future trails will typically be 10 feet wide. The planning commission recommended retaining the optional three-and-a-half-foot bike-lane stripe on larger cross-sections so the city’s standard drawings remain available as an option.

The council voted to approve the ordinance after public and staff questions; the developer and staff confirmed that the CC&Rs and final plat notes will preserve public access to trails even where the HOA carries maintenance obligations.

The measure passed by voice vote; staff will implement the addendum language in the project files and ensure final plats contain the public-access language described during the hearing.