Commission approves Kerrigan View Phase 2 plan that would preserve more than 30 acres and create a future trailhead parcel

The Salt Lake City Planning Commission on July 23 unanimously approved a plan development and preliminary subdivision for Kerrigan View Phase 2, a proposed small-lot residential subdivision at approximately 1995 South Lakeland Drive that includes a private road, five residential lots, and a large swath of preserved open space and a future trailhead parcel. Staff recommended approval, and both applications passed on unanimous votes.

Why it matters: the proposal is structured to enable transfer of open-space parcels to Salt Lake City Public Lands, preserve connector trails to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and create an area that could be developed as an off-street trailhead/parking area in the future. Commissioners and residents discussed slope and trail alignment, emergency/fire access, and the contingency that the public-land purchase must proceed for the full public-access benefits to be realized.

Project summary and staff findings - Site and zoning: the project sits on the bench above Lakeline Drive and Scenic Drive; parcels include FR2 (Foothill Residential) and open-space zoned lands. The plan would cluster development on steeper terrain without creating new buildable areas on natural slopes exceeding 30 percent. Staff said the current submittal resolves earlier slope exceptions by limiting needed exceptions to a small amount of manmade slopes created by prior improvements (road grading) rather than natural (>30%) slopes. - Lots and private road: the plan creates five single-family lots (Lots 1–5) and reserves Lot 6 as a future trailhead/amenity area. A private road is needed to serve the lots and to provide public access to Lot 6; staff noted the city’s Transportation Division does not review private streets as public streets and that private-street cross sections differ from public-street standards. The private road would include easements and a gate that limits residential through-traffic beyond the trailhead access point. - Shoreline Trail and easement: the preliminary plat dedicates a Bonneville Shoreline Trail easement across the site; staff noted that recent code changes require dedication of identified trail easements with subdivision. The proposal is intended to facilitate a future sale of open-space parcels to Salt Lake City Public Lands and to secure long-term public trail access.

Community concerns and clarifications - Purchase by Salt Lake Public Lands: several commissioners and public commenters asked what would happen if the anticipated sale to Salt Lake City Public Lands did not close. Staff and the applicant said the approved plan development would include the open-space preservation and trail easements as conditions, and that substantial residential development could not proceed without those elements; the applicant said a term sheet is signed and that they are close to a contract. - Price and funding: the applicant, Adam Turville, said a term sheet is near final and cited a proposed sale price of $1,750,000 with $1,300,000 anticipated from a state grant toward that sale; staff characterized the transfer as “advanced” but not yet completed. Public commenters urged caution and noted long prior history and community interest in the East Bench preserve. - Environmental controls and slope review: staff noted that construction drawings and final plat review will require detailed slope and grading plans; lidar and construction-level surveys will refine precise crossing locations for the private road and any retaining walls. The planning staff recommended conditions requiring revegetation of disturbed areas with native species and other standard mitigation measures. - Emergency access and utilities: the plan would correct a prior misalignment of a waterline easement so Salt Lake City would have an easement matching the actual waterline location. Commissioners asked that fire access standards be met; staff noted the fire department reviews access requirements.

Commission action - Plan development: motion by Commissioner Christiansen to approve the plan development as recommended by staff; second by Commissioner Veil; unanimous approval. Conditions include replacing the shoreline trail, allowing retaining walls and grading to construct the private road, and requiring revegetation and construction-level controls. - Preliminary subdivision: motion by Commissioner Christiansen and second by Commissioner Veil; unanimous approval. Conditions include dedications and standard subdivision requirements; staff noted that any major changes would return to the commission.

Context and next steps: staff said the approval is intended to set the framework for a sale/transfer of the green parcels to Salt Lake Public Lands and to preserve neighborhood connector trails. If the public-lands sale proceeds, a future design stage for the Lot 6 trailhead could come back to the commission for review. If the sale does not close, the approvals still include the trail easement dedications required by subdivision code, but some planned amenities would not be delivered until funding or ownership is secured.