Commission approves conditional use for performance studio on Chinden Boulevard with conditions

The Garden City Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit Sept. 17 for a nonprofit performance studio at 3300 W. Chinden Blvd., authorizing a commercial entertainment facility (conditional use) subject to conditions the commission modified during the hearing.

Jeff Hatch, representing Lehi Performance Studio (LED), told commissioners the nonprofit had purchased the building and had an earlier building permit for an artist performance studio with an occupancy load of 176. During construction the group added telescopic seating and then sought a conditional use permit after staff and a later building reviewer raised concerns about parking and frontage improvements.

Staff recommended conditions addressing pedestrian access, landscaping, screening for utility equipment, stormwater, and parking. The applicant presented parking agreements with several nearby businesses — Roots Market, a yoga studio, a hardware store and others — totaling roughly 80 spaces under agreement north of Chinden; the applicant asked the commission to accept that number rather than staff’s higher initial figure.

Commissioners and staff discussed access and safety across Chinden Boulevard, Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Ada County Highway District (ACHD) frontage requirements, and the practical challenges of requiring sidewalk or landscape work on multiple adjacent rights of way. Staff noted ITD wrote that it would not require any improvements in its right of way for the proposed frontage changes, and ACHD flagged constructability questions along 30th Street.

The commission accepted several applicant requests in its final motion: prior to occupancy the electrical cabinet on the Chinden façade must be screened with a mural (applicant to paint), stormwater language was softened so existing stormwater systems may remain put but must be rehabilitated if found nonfunctional or deteriorated, and the commission accepted lower total parking in exchange for signed agreements and conditions tying minimum on‑site/nearby spaces to future operation. The final motion also allowed staff to negotiate minor sidewalk/landscape details with ACHD and to accept alternative compliance for screening and artwork on the Osage Street façade.

Commissioners stressed the importance of enforceable parking arrangements and asked the applicant to provide documentation showing availability and, where practical, non‑revocable terms for spaces used to meet the CUP condition. Applicant Jeff Hatch said LED would finalize the parking agreements and provide signed letters; the owner confirmed onsite roof/downspout work would be completed and that the group was willing to provide murals and other frontage improvements.

The commission approved the conditional use permit with the amended conditions by unanimous vote.

What’s next: the applicant must submit any required final documentation (signed parking agreements, stormwater/roof details, mural/landscaping plans) as conditions of approval prior to final occupancy.