[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6362347,"mediaKeyId","2168157-0029d2ac6069976bebc86f933d8b320e","parentId",2168157,"title","Commission flags chicken ordinance change for lots smaller than 20,000 square feet","audioSeconds",78,"startMs",4102000,"endMs",4180000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168157-0029d2ac6069976bebc86f933d8b320e&start=4102&end=4180","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168157-0029d2ac6069976bebc86f933d8b320e/thumbnail_4102000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362347/Utah/Commission-flags-chicken-ordinance-change-for-lots-smaller-than-20000-square-feet","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362347-1ea7401fd86b5e706326becde518099e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168811&Signature=KJfKs45mauhCR~4N0mnQL5QjVwylTz-trOY-tb9ZTmm8dXMOmRfqBrRfC0q~OxM4SyiW5y~ANKU6QIXE5LfvWMmczP5LJq5cEglN7he-xYn9xNlr5qis272JpXHQNEg-DHTPT~VsaLOjQIeEHPJha2yobVzd6vUFXxOqpzN0XhJ1ffBrmJshoNu8nrakHW9yhYukZrhUQUwex-zpPwcAoU-56JJbMNcdsSBJ4muVFNWrZOVPf91FIhRdbyZjpUpxDhy81dg7WlVeQN8sJgWtV-Jt2CrA-XzI8N5VR4EOdZEzIPLsag1mvlPs5E-A4GjUKvN9de7XFTML9ZwOmmnk7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-30T16:35:49.59Z","article","Members of the Fruit Heights Planning Commission discussed revising the municipal chicken ordinance to allow residents on smaller lots to keep backyard chickens.

The meeting transcript records commissioners saying the city's current standard requires 20,000 square feet to have chickens, a threshold that excludes many lots that are a quarter acre or smaller. One commissioner observed that a number of lots in the city are smaller than the current requirement and said the commission should amend the code so those households could legally keep chickens if they meet other standards.

A commissioner characterized the change as a \"logical move\" and asked staff to pursue a code amendment through the usual public process. The discussion concluded with direction for staff to include the chicken-ordinance amendment as an upcoming item for review; no formal motion or vote on the change was recorded in the transcript excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission Meeting 01.28.25","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners said the city's current requirement that property be 20,000 square feet to keep chickens excludes many residential lots and asked staff to pursue changes addressing smaller lots.","taxTitle","Fruit Heights City Council, Fruit Heights, Davis County, Utah","taxId",21255,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6362352,"Planning commission debates mapping, R1-6/R1-8 and higher-density options for affordable housing plan",2242,1482000,3724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168157-0029d2ac6069976bebc86f933d8b320e&start=1482&end=3724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168157-0029d2ac6069976bebc86f933d8b320e/thumbnail_1482000.jpg","/articles/6362352/Utah/Planning-commission-debates-mapping-R1-6R1-8-and-higher-density-options-for-affordable-housing-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362352-2dc1336b9e896321875597e80c334bd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168811&Signature=knh1smzRzdDih16dflbweN9QkUZWVwuTjRVx3GKBIQVLRfgtzZwN7t4iiqabpkNRa35v0a8MwMNflNzGSR6OE-1pj3oiXsGfNvbDUfPAAtyhzw1unf~R9DjfUF19d9HouidNwJGS6mOyfXnmwH4w61xxeD5SN9ZINl69Ib0Sv70vAATbqZGVX4VgvOnm9CuCWqfxv7FGgnBaQOAqqLfATVf-wGmGwBygepux9ziysFBQzO8uRpWgkPWIxxPfZPgoCMyGUHrjXcS3kvwOQT8eY5JeffvbqttYo4wGfeB-DibMgBrjtXGkEJXYvX6Uoa-VT3WFQR6ewV5Gcjkw0XpWOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fruit Heights City Planning Commission spent much of its meeting reviewing the city's affordable housing plan and possible changes to the general plan that would identify areas suitable for higher-density zoning.

Commissioners described three main elements of the city's approach: an internal accessory-dwelling-unit ordinance, a proposed R1-6 zone intended to enable more compact single-family development, and a map exercise identifying areas the city could consider rezoning for higher density in the future. Commissioners agreed the general-plan map would not itself rezone property but would identify areas the city would be more open to considering for rezoning if property owners and developers were willing.

Planning staff and commissioners said the city had exchanged several rounds of review with state reviewers since submitting an affordable housing plan in August; the city later secured state sign-off after additional changes. Commissioners also said city representatives, including staff and the mayor, met with state Sen. Stuart Adams to press the city's efforts, though they noted it remained unclear whether additional state support would follow.

Commissioners discussed specific local constraints. Multiple speakers said some land parcels are being held at prices that make multifamily or denser single-family projects infeasible; one speaker cited the Joe Christiansen parcels as an example of lots being priced too high to make an R1-6 project pencil out. Commissioners discussed an \"accordion\" approach to the map that would identify a small number of locations where R3 (higher-density residential) might be appropriate, a few places for R1-8 or R1-6, and leave most areas at current densities. Several commissioners stressed the need for careful design controls if higher-density zoning were to be allowed in specific places, and suggested work to refine R3 ordinance language (building height limits, site plan review standards) before public engagement.

As next steps commissioners directed staff to draft recommended changes to the R3 ordinance for review and to plan public engagement (open houses and public hearings) on the general-plan mapping exercise. No formal vote on rezoning was taken; commissioners framed the discussion as guidance for future Council and planning work.

Commissioners also raised concerns about state-level legislation that some said could undermine local zoning controls if passed. One commissioner described a bill circulating in the legislature that would allow a 4,000-square-foot building on lots of that size across the state; commissioners said such legislation, if enacted, would significantly affect local planning but did not formalize a position on the measure during the meeting.","Commissioners reviewed the city's affordable housing plan elements, including an ADU ordinance, a proposed R1-6 zone, possible R1-8/R3 designations on parts of the general plan map, and next steps to return recommended R3 ordinance language to commissioners.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6362358,"Planning commission recommends shrinking pool setback to 6 feet",728,700000,1428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168157-0029d2ac6069976bebc86f933d8b320e&start=700&end=1428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168157-0029d2ac6069976bebc86f933d8b320e/thumbnail_700000.jpg","/articles/6362358/Utah/Planning-commission-recommends-shrinking-pool-setback-to-6-feet","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362358-abef70a554f8fffae4cda27d996f1565/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168811&Signature=av9KOLSH8faIh9~KcEyp6P~bFh-4BKTW-gAA0IMn8dDKQ4S9NxYRftb6UgVdhu1wX6VZoVTM-cDRZZou28e4T3DknF3MUvY2sAbu-qd0zZtmBmssRLaKTq7f5TQR1i~AaOwVjX2D-wJEYM0PSZN008gQdhYh8mOy93csX7KBeWhqycsHrtRW-c4rMwnxTJePlSSfOwjU6uoktPezllsmLQl1uVptC9venkMEv-XnxQ6-NQWuzLPWgJuq2lzN6zBXhzfy1lPRsl6sQ55qI6qAZFjEdgHijvglFOV3Na4TXNOahK1ElC2AChMZLGY1vS6rvOsI8y-a22IvQle-LFo6Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fruit Heights City Planning Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council amend the municipal pool setback ordinance, reducing the required rear-yard setback from eight feet to six feet.

Commissioners said the change is intended to reflect smaller lot sizes in parts of the city while balancing neighbors' concerns about noise and lighting. The commission's recommendation will be sent to the City Council for consideration.

During discussion commissioners and staff reviewed a range of setback proposals that had been floated, including five and six feet. One commissioner said the commission had reached more consensus around six feet than five. Planning staff noted that average setbacks in some subdivisions run larger, and discussed practical constraints such as utility easements. A planning staff member cautioned, \"You would never risk as a homeowner the expense of a pool in a utility easement thinking that someday that might get ripped out. Right? That's just not a risk you should run. So we should steer as clear of that as we possibly could.\" That staff comment was offered as a reason to ensure applicants check for any existing utility easements before siting a pool.

At the end of the discussion a commissioner made \"a motion to send a recommendation to the city council to amend the pool ordinance from an 8 feet set setback to 6 foot setback.\" Another commissioner seconded the motion and the commission voted in favor. The transcript records the vote as unanimous; no individual roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript excerpt.

The commission's recommendation does not itself change the city code; it is a nonbinding recommendation that will be considered by the City Council at a future public meeting. Staff said applicants would still be expected to determine the presence of utilities and obtain any required permits prior to construction.","Fruit Heights planning commissioners voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council amend the city's pool setback from 8 feet to 6 feet after discussion about lot sizes, utilities and neighbor impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission flags chicken ordinance change for lots smaller than 20,000 square feet

Planning commission debates mapping, R1-6/R1-8 and higher-density options for affordable housing plan

Planning commission recommends shrinking pool setback to 6 feet