Council denies Denton Acres special-use permit over infrastructure concerns

Preston City Council voted to deny a special-use permit that would have allowed Tony Crockett to build 76 multifamily units on two Denton Acres parcels, concluding that the application failed to meet the city's special-use standards.

Councilman Brent Dodge moved to deny the permit, arguing the project conflicted with the comprehensive plan and inadequate infrastructure. Citing engineering letters, Dodge said the proposal "By by approving this, we are maxed out with our water." The motion was seconded by Councilman Chris Larson and passed on a roll call of three in favor, one abstention. Councilmember Terry Larson abstained.

Supporters for the developer said engineers on both sides had exchanged data and that the proposal complied with zoning and the city's acreage-to-unit formula. Developer Tony Crockett told the council his team had responded to city questions and that "we're following ordinance," and that buildout would be phased over many years.

But several council members cited Keller & Associates' letters and the public-works director's notes, which flagged undersized mains, stormwater design gaps and traffic-study errors. Those findings informed the council's reason statement, which noted failures to satisfy multiple standards A–H that the city applies when granting special uses.

The denial applies specifically to the 76-unit configuration on lots 70 and 71; council members said the broader subdivision approval remains in place for other lots and that the developer could return with modified plans. City staff noted the code requires the council to state actions (if any) the applicant could take to obtain approval; council members said, for the record, that without major water, sewer and road upgrades there were no practicable fixes to allow the proposed density at this location.