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Council requires masonry fencing for double‑frontage lots on busy roads, with DRC discretion
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance requiring masonry‑style fencing on new subdivision double‑frontage lots where one frontage faces a traffic artery, with the Development Review Committee (DRC) to determine applicability on a case‑by‑case basis.
Santaquin’s City Council on July 19 approved a zoning amendment that requires developers to install masonry‑style fencing along one frontage of any new double‑frontage lot that faces a traffic artery, with the city’s Development Review Committee authorized to determine whether the condition applies.
City staff said double‑frontage lots — parcels with a public road on two sides — can create safety and access conflicts if the side facing a busier arterial or collector road is used for driveways or yard access. The proposed language treats a masonry wall as a subdivision improvement, to be installed by the developer prior to issuance of building permits.
The planning commission recommended that the requirement apply to arterial or collector roads but exempt local roads and situations where a short run of masonry would be an obvious visual outlier. To give staff and technical reviewers flexibility, the council added language that masonry fencing is required "when double frontage lots occur on traffic arteries, as determined by the DRC." That amendment was included in the motion the council approved.
Supporters said masonry walls are more permanent and better at preventing unsafe secondary driveway access than chain link or vinyl fences, and that requiring the wall up front also reduces construction‑period safety problems. Councilmembers discussed examples such as Summit Ridge Parkway and Foothill where masonry walls were previously negotiated through development agreements.
The ordinance passed unanimous voice vote; councilmembers noted the rule applies only to new subdivisions and does not retroactively change existing development agreements. Staff said the change is intended to reduce future access and safety conflicts on busier roads while allowing the DRC to handle special circumstances.
Next steps: staff to update subdivision improvement checklists and apply the requirement to new subdivision plats and development reviews.
