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Planning commission backs 6‑foot front-yard standard near residences, extends 6‑to‑6/6 allowance for most light‑industrial parcels
Summary
The commission recommended that City Council allow fences up to 6 feet in designated light‑industrial districts citywide but added a carve‑out keeping a 4‑foot front‑yard limit where those properties abut or face zones that allow residential uses. The motion passed 5–3.
The Planning Commission on Aug. 13 voted to forward a text amendment to City Council expanding a prior allowance for taller front-yard fences in the M1 and the newly created M1A light‑industrial zoning districts — but with a condition that properties abutting or facing any zone that permits residential uses keep front-yard fences at 4 feet.
Planner Diana (staff) explained the proposal would replicate an allowance the City Council adopted last year for the Salt Lake International Center across the city’s M1 and M1A districts. The change would let front-yard fences reach up to 6 feet "if located between the front lot line and the front building line of the facade of the principal structure that contains the primary entrance," language the staff report recommended to align with existing code phrasing.
Commissioners discussed adjacent residential interfaces and sight‑distance safety near driveways. Transportation and planning staff told the commission that sight‑distance triangle rules and driveway‑visibility standards would remain in force.
Commissioner Landon Krasick moved to forward the amendment with a modification that keeps a 4‑foot front‑yard limit for M1 or M1A parcels abutting or across the street from any zone that allows residential use; Commissioner Mike Christiansen seconded. The commission voted 5–3 in favor of that recommendation. Staff will carry the commission’s recommendation to City Council for adoption or further revision.
The amendment does not change other niche exceptions in code that already allow taller security fencing in M2 or extraction (EI) zones; it is limited to the M1 and M1A districts as described in the staff report.
