The Sandy City Planning Commission voted to forward a positive recommendation to City Council to change the zoning for 2140 East Creek Road from R‑1‑40 to R‑1‑15A, commissioners said at the public hearing.

The rezoning application was presented by Jake Warner, the city’s long‑range planning manager. The property owner, Joe Goot, told the commission he bought the 1.5‑acre parcel in about 1993 and that several accessory structures on the lot predate the city annexation. "I'm trying to bring it into compliance," Goot said, explaining the R‑1‑15A designation would better match existing setbacks and accessory structures and would allow limited farm animals under the code.

Why it matters: The R‑1‑15A zone changes setbacks and the allowable number and combined square footage of accessory structures and carries an "A" designation that permits farm animals. Staff and the applicant said the rezoning would create a path for the owner to attach an existing accessory structure to the main dwelling and meet setback rules; neighbors said the changes could enable more rental activity and other uses they find harmful to the block.

Public concerns: Two neighbors who live immediately east of the property, Susan Updike and David Updike of 8253 South Rossett Green Lane, told the commission they are worried the properties on the lot have been and could be used as short‑term rentals. Susan Updike said she has seen dogs urinate on her lawn, noted a garbage can left out for more than a month and said the structures are sometimes unoccupied in winter. David Updike said vehicles associated with the site sometimes park on Creek Road and make it hard to see eastbound traffic when pulling out of his street. Both speakers said online listings showed the structures had appeared on VRBO and Airbnb in the past.

Staff explanation and code constraints: Jake Warner told commissioners the city has a short‑term rental ordinance that requires a permit and owner occupancy for an STR; the permit is limited and the city enforces caps and conducts compliance monitoring. Warner said the applicant likely has grandfathered rights for a detached accessory dwelling unit that was rented long term before annexation, but some later accessory structures exceed what was approved during annexation and are nonconforming. "The existing accessory structures currently exceed what would be allowed as far as the number of accessory structures and the total square footage of accessory structures," Warner said, describing the rezoning as the first step in a multi‑step pathway to bring the property into compliance.

Animal allowances: Commissioners asked about animals. A staff member explained the city’s animal‑space ratios: "Each large animal requires 10,000 square feet. Each medium animal requires 4,000 square feet, and each small animal requires at least 400 square feet," adding a 20,000 square foot example would allow two large animals or five medium animals or 50 small animals or a combination.

Decision and next steps: The commission approved a motion to recommend City Council approve the rezoning application and will send the item to City Council for a final decision at a future meeting (staff indicated council would hear the item in November). The recommendation passed on a roll call that recorded votes from commissioners: Ron Mortimer (yes), Steve Wrigley (yes), Cameron Duncan (yes), Danny Schoenfeld (yes), Craig Kitterman (no), Jennifer George (yes) and Chair Dave Bromley (yes). The council is the final decision maker for legislative rezones.

The commission and staff acknowledged neighbors’ concerns and said compliance tools exist for short‑term rental permitting and code enforcement.