After public comment, planning commission splits on Sorrento rezoning but approves MDA with conditions

The Herriman City Planning Commission held an extended public hearing April 2 on an 18.05‑acre parcel (the Sorrento property) proposed for a general‑plan change and subsequent development. The meeting drew multiple neighbors who raised concerns about density, traffic, schools and contaminated soils.

What the commission recommended - General plan amendment (item 4.3): The commission voted to recommend City Council approve changing the site’s general‑plan designation from “civic and community” to neighborhood residential (the motion passed 4–2). Commissioners who voted in favor were Forrest, Jackson, Andrea and Tara; Heather and Darrel voted no. - Zoning map amendment (item 4.4): Commission recommended denial of the requested R‑2‑10 zoning map amendment. (The commission’s final recommendation transmitted to council was denial.) - Master development agreement (item 4.5): The commission voted to recommend approval of the Sorrento MDA with staff conditions and an added request that City Council consider a greater variety of lot sizes and reconcile the MDA with the denial of the zoning map amendment. The motion passed after roll‑call and subsequent chair action to finalize the recommendation; commissioners asked city staff and the applicant to pursue a mix of larger perimeter lots and smaller interior lots where feasible.

Key project details and community concerns - Property and proposal: Staff said the Sorrento site is about 18.05 acres and that the MDA concept for this parcel included approximately 13 detached single‑family lots with a combination of public and private streets; staff also reported a recommended condition to limit a broader zoning‑area cap to 113 units (a separate zoning condition proposed in the packet). The private streets would generally be 43‑foot dedications (no park strip) and public streets 53‑foot dedications (with park strip).

- Public comment: Neighbors cited concerns about school capacity, morning traffic backups on 5600/5835 West, impacts on property values and loss of larger‑lot character. Several nearby residents and property owners — including members of the Butterfield family and neighbors on 5835 West and Tuscany — urged larger lots or an R‑1 style zone. A petition asserting a desire to preserve Herriman’s historic district was mentioned by a public commenter as part of the broader opposition.

- Contamination and remediation: Staff and the applicant discussed contaminated soils on the parcel. Ryan Button (applicant) said remediation would be paid for by the developer and that the plan includes use of a public infrastructure district (PID) that could reimburse a portion of remediation costs; staff stated a current cleanup bid was about $2,800,000. Planning and environmental oversight will occur under state DEQ and federal guidelines, staff said.

Commissioners’ reasoning Commissioners said they were weighing competing priorities: neighbors’ preference for larger lots and the city’s interest in consolidating land for a proposed athletic complex (a larger park/amenity). Several commissioners said the Sorrento layout attempts to step lot sizes down to meet adjacent home patterns and that constraints (a Jordan Valley water trunk line across the site and the contaminated‑soil footprint) affect street and lot geometry.

Next steps The commission’s recommendations (approval of the general plan amendment, denial of the zoning amendment, and conditional approval of the MDA) will be forwarded to City Council for decision. Staff noted that detailed traffic and school‑impact analyses and a formal remediation plan will be required in subsequent phases.

Votes and motions from the meeting are in the formal record transmitted with this recommendation packet.