Lynndyl council told Utah law requires revised subdivision ordinance; vote set for next month

Lynndyl Town Council members were told at a meeting that a rewritten subdivision ordinance prepared by regional planner Jess Peterson must be adopted to comply with Utah law and will be brought to the council for consideration next month.

Council members were given a copy of the draft and told to read it and forward questions so they can resolve issues before the next meeting. A council member said, “that is actually something that Utah law required us to have in place by the end of the year.” The council did not vote this month; staff was directed to place Jess Peterson on next month’s agenda so the council can review and vote on the proposed ordinance.

The draft contains provisions the speaker said are required under state law and includes items that the council will need to review for planning-and-zoning processes, including a placeholder for a designated reviewer. Council members discussed whether the ordinance should specify an individual title or use a more flexible phrase such as “person designated by the council” to allow administrative changes without a formal amendment. A council member recommended emailing Jess Peterson with questions before the next meeting so the ordinance can be finalized for a vote.

The council clerk, Mary Carpenter, was given a hard copy and asked to circulate the draft to other members. No formal motion or vote took place during the meeting on the ordinance; the item was described as coming before the council next month for formal action.

Background: Council members and staff said the rewritten subdivision ordinance was prepared by Jess Peterson (R6) and presented to the town to meet a statutory deadline. The council was advised to read the document thoroughly and raise any substantive questions in advance so the ordinance could move to a vote at the following meeting.