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Santaquin council to seek zoning change after resident asks to convert home to duplex in Main Street residential zone
Summary
A Santaquin resident told the City Council March 18 that his older house in the Main Street Residential (MSR) zone was designed as two units; council members instructed staff to initiate an amendment to zoning language that currently requires at least one acre and eight units for multifamily development in MSR.
A resident told the Santaquin City Council on March 18 that he wants to convert a family home behind Family Dollar on 100 North into a duplex, and council members agreed to have staff pursue an ordinance change to consider his request.
"I just don't understand why I would not be able to turn that home into a duplex," Lonnie, a resident, told the council during public comment, describing a house with walkouts on both sides that he said was intended by the builder to be used as two units.
Jason, a community development staff member, explained the city code background: the R8 zone once allowed multifamily but the city later restricted multifamily in core single-family areas. "It is actually allowed in the MSR, but it's such a narrow target ... you have to have at least eight units and at least 1 acre, and you can't have more than 12 units," Jason said, summarizing the existing code that prevents the resident — who owns roughly a third of an acre — from creating a two‑unit building under current rules.
Council members discussed options and agreed to take next steps. Mayor (not specified) said, "Let's do it. Let's see if we can help this out," and directed staff to start a legislative amendment process. Jason said staff would work with community development, circulate draft language, send it to the planning commission for review and hold a public hearing; because of noticing requirements, the planning commission hearing is likely at the commission's first meeting in April.
Council and staff emphasized process limits and the difference between duplexes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Brett, the city attorney, clarified that ADUs must be owner occupied and that Lonnie's request — to lease two units — would be treated as a true duplex and therefore not the same as the city's ADU rules.
City staff described the city’s policy history: earlier councils removed small multifamily allowances in R8 after resident complaints; the MSR zone allows multifamily only above a size threshold intended to ensure on‑site amenities (a minimum 1 acre and an 8‑unit minimum). Council members said they wanted to avoid an across‑the‑board loosening of rules but agreed to narrow the review to consider whether the MSR language could be amended to accommodate limited duplex conversions or other targeted exceptions.
The council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Instead it directed staff to initiate an amendment, pursue the legislative process (planning commission review and public hearing), and report back. Staff said notice mailings are required for the public hearing but that an internal text amendment to zone language (not a rezoning) would not trigger separate zone change letters beyond normal hearing notice requirements.
The public comment and staff exchange combined the resident’s personal history with the city’s zoning evolution; council members signaled support for beginning a formal review rather than promising a specific change.
The council’s next procedural steps are internal staff drafting, planning commission review and a public hearing; the city estimated the planning commission would likely take up the matter at its first April meeting because of required notice periods.
