Council amends zoning code to allow small owner/employee housing within General Commercial buildings

The Brian Head Town Council on June 23 adopted Ordinance No. 26‑011 to amend Chapter 7 of the Land Management Code, allowing a residential dwelling within a commercial building envelope for owner or employee housing in the General Commercial zone.

Planning & Building Administrator Greg Sant told the council the Planning Commission identified a gap where the Light Industrial zone already permits a small on‑site residential unit for an owner, employee or caretaker, but the General Commercial zone did not. The amendment adds that limited residential allowance to General Commercial to avoid requiring a full mixed‑use overlay for smaller projects.

Sant emphasized the amendment is intended for owner/employee housing linked to the commercial use and is not meant to permit standalone residential development or rental units. Council Member Larry Freeberg moved to adopt Ordinance No. 26‑011; Council Member Logan Cruz seconded. The motion carried 4‑0.

The change is intended to provide flexibility for businesses that need a small on‑site dwelling tied to operations (for example, a caretaker or resident manager) while preserving the town's broader zoning limits on residential development in commercial areas.