The Grantsville Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit for a twin‑home layout in the Falcon Landing subdivision and, separately, approved the subdivision’s preliminary plat with recommended conditions including a reduced rear-yard setback for R-112 lots.

Planning staff explained the code interpretation that governs twin homes: the base lot must meet the zoning district’s minimum lot size plus additional square footage for a second dwelling unit. For R-112, staff said that requires a 12,000-square-foot minimum plus an additional 1,500 square feet for the second unit; at final plat the large lot is divided into two lots that share a common wall.

Shay (planning staff) told commissioners the proposed twin-home lots would yield finished units roughly 2,600 square feet (two-story), with the main-level footprint roughly 1,300 square feet and therefore below the 1,500-square-foot additional-unit footprint the code requires. The applicant’s engineer and developer described the design and said they expect about seven twin-home lots (producing 14 dwelling units).

Gary Pickle, a public commenter, warned that applications must clearly show which physical lots will contain twin homes; staff said the layout is shown for preliminary approval and individual lot splits will be finalized on the final plat if the conditional use is approved.

On other items tied to the preliminary plat the commission approved a requested rear-yard deviation for R-112 twin-home lots — the applicant requested a 25-foot rear yard where the R-112 code calls for a 40-foot rear yard. Planning staff noted the project complies with the front-yard requirement (30 feet in R-112 at the time of application) and with side-yard rules; commissioners discussed lot coverage limits (staff cited a 20% lot-coverage constraint for many lots) as a limiting factor on home size.

Staff recommended conditions that include a perimeter fence around the development (commissioners discussed a 6-foot vinyl fence as the preferred style), and noted that chapter 21 of the code allows a fee-in-lieu of open space on developments under 20 acres; under code the fee formula is 10% of a certified land-value estimate and the city will not accept open-space parcels under 10 acres without HOA maintenance. Commissioners included standard staff conditions in their approval.

Votes: The commission approved the twin‑home layout (conditional use) and approved the preliminary plat with staff-recommended conditions, both by unanimous voice vote.

Why it matters: The approvals create a path for 14 new attached single‑family units in Grantsville and set precedents for how twin homes will be interpreted under R-112 zoning (minimum lot plus additional square footage for the second unit). The rear-yard deviation will allow these units to place homes closer to lot rears than new code would otherwise permit.

Next steps: The developer will prepare final plats that show the split lots and engineering plans; staff will inspect required infrastructure and verify final compliance before building permits issue.