Spring City council adopts zoning ordinance creating historic preservation zone, limits ADU size to 1,000 sq ft

SPRING CITY — The Spring City Council adopted Ordinance 20 25 0 5 at a special meeting Oct. 21, voting to create a historic preservation zone that keeps a 1.06-acre minimum lot size within that zone and prohibits multifamily housing there. The council amended the draft to change the maximum permitted size for guest houses/ADUs from 1,200 square feet to 1,000 square feet, aligning the limit with the county ADU ordinance, and voted unanimously to pass the measure.

Council member Randy Strait recounted the yearlong history of the issue, saying the matter began last summer when the council passed Resolution 20 24 0 6 creating a growth committee to study lot-size and other growth challenges. "The discussion on this topic has been going on for over a year," Strait said. He told the council the growth committee gathered data for several months but made no recommendation; the work returned to the council for further meetings among the council and planning and zoning.

Strait said the council reached two competing drafts — labeled O3 and O5 — and that O5 was developed after a proposal to create a preservation zone. He also told the council that litigation filed by community members on July 15 prompted the city to pause meetings while the suit proceeded; "The judge did deny the temporary restraining order," Strait said, and that denial allowed the council to resume work and bring O5 forward.

The council discussed a specific technical change to the O5 draft concerning accessory dwelling units and guest houses. City staff reported that where O5 referenced a 1,200-square-foot maximum, the county ordinance sets a 1,000-square-foot maximum. Strait moved to adopt O5 "as drafted with the change to the guest house so that it reads in line with the county" to limit an attached ADU to a total maximum floor area of 1,000 square feet; the motion was seconded by Courtney.

During the roll call and vote, Paul Penrads said he supported the ordinance, adding, "I vote yes for O5." The council recorded the vote as unanimous; the council then noted that because O5 passed, O3 no longer needed consideration at this meeting.

The ordinance preserves the Spring City Historical District as registered and creates a separate zoning designation called the historic preservation zone. According to the discussion at the meeting, adopting O5 does not alter the registered historic district boundary; it establishes a zone in which the 1.06-acre minimum lot size and a prohibition on multifamily dwellings will apply.

Council members also noted that the council previously received training from Bob Terry (identified in the meeting as a state trainer) about the legal standards courts apply to legislative land-use decisions. Strait summarized that guidance, saying legislative bodies should seek balance between public interest and private-property rights and that "if it is reasonably debatable that the decision could advance general welfare or public interest and is consistent with state law, a court will likely uphold the decision."

For the meeting record the council confirmed the city would include the council's meeting order and the letter disclosing potential conflicts submitted by Council Member Randy Strait with the minutes.

The council adjourned after the unanimous vote on O5.