Council approves rezoning for 332-acre Inland Port parcel; wetlands to be protected

The Tooele County Council approved Ordinance 2025-12 on Sept. 2 to rezone 332.48 acres located off Burmester Road from MU-40 (multiple use, 40-acre minimum) to MG (manufacturing general) within the Inland Port project area. Rochelle (staff) told the council the applicant’s land includes roughly 60% wetlands that the applicant will protect through either a wetland mitigation bank or a mitigation project; staff will return to the council with the mitigation plan once the applicant chooses.

Rochelle told the council a traffic study recommended installation of a traffic signal at the I-80/Burmester intersection by about 2030 to serve projected truck traffic at full build-out; she said the study projects the majority of heavy truck traffic would go directly to I-80 and not into adjacent residential areas. Planning commission made a unanimous favorable recommendation on the rezoning.

Council action: Councilman Hoffman moved to approve the rezoning, with a second from Councilman Wardle. The motion passed unanimously with the council members present.

Discussion and conditions: Rochelle said wetlands would be protected and that the applicant would bring a mitigation plan for council review. The council heard resident concern (Miss Durfee) about traffic; staff noted full build-out traffic is projected for 2030–2050 with most heavy truck traffic going to I-80.

Why it matters: Rezoning places a large parcel inside the county’s Inland Port area into a manufacturing designation and triggers mitigation and traffic improvements as the site develops. The county will review wetland mitigation plans and future permits as the project proceeds.