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Planning commission backs D.R. Horton PUD setback changes for Western Acres
Summary
Tooele City Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend a PUD amendment from D.R. Horton that adjusts townhouse setbacks on about 4.5 acres of the 86-acre Western Acres PUD to address a drainage/trail parcel and future property-line setbacks.
The Tooele City Planning Commission on March 26 voted 7-0 to forward a positive recommendation to the city council for a D.R. Horton amendment to the Western Acres Planned Unit Development that would change townhouse setback standards on roughly 4.5 acres of the 86-acre development near 2000 North Copper Canyon Drive.
City planning staff said the amendment is largely a housekeeping change to prevent a future setback conflict if the Bridal Canyon drainage and accompanying trail — currently an easement — are created as a separate parcel or transferred to the city. Planning staff member Andrew Agard told commissioners the PUD was approved with standards that exceeded typical zoning but that the original approval did not include detailed staff review of building setbacks for each phase. Agard said the amendment would specify an 8-foot rear-yard setback for townhomes, a 1-foot side-yard setback from property lines, and retain a 10–20-foot setback range where townhomes face public or private streets per the city multifamily design standards in city code 7-11A.
Agard said the amendment will not change unit counts, unit styles or the overall configuration of Western Acres; it is intended to “catch this problem and fix it before it becomes a problem.” He and D.R. Horton representative David Lewis said the change aims to avoid noncompliance if the drainage becomes a property line in the future.
A resident who lives adjacent to the development, Cynthia Carpio, spoke during the public hearing about dust from construction trucks and asked who would be accountable if the city assumed maintenance of the drainage. Staff directed Carpio to city council or the developer for operational complaints; Lewis and Agard both said the parcel is intended for city ownership in the future and that there is already a recorded easement allowing city maintenance.
Commissioners and city staff also discussed the policy question of the city accepting ownership. Commissioner Jensen asked whether the city wanted to take on maintenance; Agard said that decision would be for the city council but indicated staff support. Mr. Hansen, speaking from an engineering perspective, and other staff said city ownership would allow access and reduce long-term liability, and noted past cases where privately retained drainage parcels later created problems.
Commissioner Proctor moved a positive recommendation to the city council for the Western Acres PUD zoning map amendment (application 2025-028); Commissioner Jensen seconded. The vote was unanimous: Hammer, Proctor, Sloan, Hamilton, Jensen, Anderson and the chair all voted aye. The item will proceed to the city council with a 7-0 positive recommendation.
Votes at a glance: Motion — positive recommendation to city council for Western Acres PUD amendment (application 2025-028). Mover: Commissioner Proctor. Second: Commissioner Jensen. Outcome: Forwarded to city council with positive recommendation, 7–0.
