[{"_1":2,"_84":-5,"_85":-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",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6498693,"mediaKeyId","5609789-2a770d456c49074a82f7307a6e967ea8","parentId",5609789,"title","Spring City council discusses settlement proposals on zoning lawsuit, considers smaller preservation zone and ADU increase","audioSeconds",2949,"startMs",225000,"endMs",3174000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609789-2a770d456c49074a82f7307a6e967ea8&start=225&end=3174","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6498693/Spring-City/Sanpete-County/Utah/Spring-City-council-discusses-settlement-proposals-on-zoning-lawsuit-considers-smaller-preservation-zone-and-ADU-increase","mediaUrl","author","Spring City Spring City Council","date","2025-08-19T18:45:00Z","article","Spring City councilmembers spent the bulk of a work meeting discussing proposals that plaintiffs in a pending lawsuit brought forward as potential terms for dismissing litigation challenging a draft zoning ordinance.

Council members described a range of possible compromises discussed with plaintiffs and their representatives on Zoom, including: pausing certain zoning decisions until a new general plan is completed; narrowing the geographic area subject to a new minimum-lot-size requirement so the 'historic core' would remain protected; increasing permitted accessory dwelling unit (ADU) size; and lowering the share of multifamily units contemplated in the draft ordinance. The plaintiffs' representatives said they would dismiss the lawsuit if the parties agreed to specified changes and work cooperatively on public communications.

Specific changes discussed included reducing a proposed citywide minimum-lot-size requirement from the draft's 1.06 acres to one-half acre in many areas, while preserving a smaller protected zone for the historic core. Councilmember Chris (first name only in transcript) described a candidate protected area that would \"go from Second West to Fifth East and from 6 South to 750 North,\" and other councilmembers proposed alternative, smaller boundaries intended to retain a higher share of historic homes inside the protected zone.

Councilmembers debated whether shrinking the protected zone would actually preserve the city's National Register historic-district designation. Several participants said they had asked the National Park Service about a '50% rule of thumb' (the idea that losing more than 50% historic homes could jeopardize a listing) and were told that 50% is an informal rule of thumb rather than a binding documented threshold.

On development controls, councilmembers discussed increasing ADU size limits from the current 650 square feet to between 1,200 and 1,300 square feet in the proposed ordinance language. They also debated cutting the multifamily allotment in the draft ordinance from 5% to either 3% (what some plaintiffs sought) or a compromise of 4% (favored by some councilmembers). Several participants noted that any multifamily development would still require a formal zone-change and public hearing process; raising or lowering the percentage is not itself authorization to build without a zone change.

Councilmembers raised procedural and trust concerns. Several said the plaintiffs were served a lawsuit shortly after meeting privately with some council representatives, which undermined trust. One councilmember described an instance where outreach tied to the lawsuit caused an outside watershed partner to pause its participation in an unrelated flood-prevention project. Those trust issues shaped reluctance among some councilmembers to count on any settlement offers without written commitments and legal review.

Councilmembers said they will continue negotiations, ask the plaintiffs to review a draft set of proposed boundary and ordinance changes, and get advice from the city attorney. They proposed a closed session with the city attorney in the coming week if necessary, and scheduled follow-up discussions to attempt to reach a settlement that could be presented to the full council. No binding agreement or ordinance vote occurred during the work meeting.

The council also discussed moving forward with a new general plan and asked planning staff to estimate timeline and costs; one planning presenter gave a rough cost range of $15,000 to $50,000 for the general-plan work discussed during the meeting. Several councilmembers said they supported revisiting the draft ordinance language, and some asked staff to prepare a redlined proposal that incorporated the ADU and protected-area adjustments for further review.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Work Meeting - August 19, 2025, Audio of the Work Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmembers discussed potential compromises to end litigation over a draft zoning ordinance, including a smaller protected historic core, larger ADUs, and a reduced multifamily allocation; no settlement or ordinance vote occurred.","taxTitle","Spring City, Sanpete County, Utah","taxId",80056,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6498697,"Spring City councilors ask staff to draft ordinance allowing delayed sewer hookups when pumps are required",158,56000,214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5609789-2a770d456c49074a82f7307a6e967ea8&start=56&end=214","/articles/6498697/Spring-City/Sanpete-County/Utah/Spring-City-councilors-ask-staff-to-draft-ordinance-allowing-delayed-sewer-hookups-when-pumps-are-required","At a Spring City Council work meeting, councilmembers discussed revisions to the city's sewer-connection rules to give some property owners more time to connect where a pump installation would otherwise be required.

Councilmember Marty McCain said the existing city ordinance requires properties to connect within 60 days, but earlier guidance given to some residents offered a longer timeline if a pump was necessary. \"Your ordinance states they have 60 days to hook up,\" McCain said, noting the inconsistency between the oral guidance and the written ordinance.

The council discussed drafting a two-part amendment. One section would require new homes within the connection area to hook up immediately. The second section would allow existing properties that would need a pump to delay a hookup for up to two years, provided they begin paying the connection fee and submit an engineer's certification if they seek the pump exception. Councilmembers emphasized that the change would not require owners who can connect without a pump to keep a septic tank in place.

City staff said a public letter explaining the change had been prepared and that ordinance language would be revised to reflect the extended timeline before the letter is sent. Paul Kenrock and other councilmembers asked staff to prepare the redrafted ordinance for presentation at a future council meeting; no formal vote was taken at the work meeting.

Council members characterized the action as procedural: reconcile past informal commitments to residents with the written municipal code so the city can send a clear notice to affected property owners.

Next steps described at the meeting included preparing draft ordinance text and circulating it to councilmembers and legal counsel before any formal public hearing or adoption process. No formal action or final ordinance adoption occurred at the work meeting.","At a Spring City Council work meeting, councilmembers directed staff to draft ordinance language to allow property owners more time to connect to the new sewer where a pump is needed, require engineer sign-off for pump exceptions, and send an explanatory letter to residents.","actionData","errors"]

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Spring City council discusses settlement proposals on zoning lawsuit, considers smaller preservation zone and ADU increase

Spring City councilors ask staff to draft ordinance allowing delayed sewer hookups when pumps are required