Santaquin planning commission favors requirement for shared dumpsters at multifamily properties of three or more units

SANTAQUIN, Utah — The Santaquin City Planning Commission on April 22 unanimously recommended that the City Council adopt a code amendment requiring shared dumpsters for multifamily developments that contain three or more dwelling units.

Staff said police and fire have reported access problems at some townhouse complexes where multiple individual trash cans block access, and the utility department must create separate utility accounts for trash when units are billed individually. The amendment would require a centralized dumpster for developments with three or more units to simplify service and emergency access.

Staff explained the three‑unit threshold was chosen to match the city’s existing practice for master water meters: for approximately the last two to three years, buildings with at least three units have been required to have a single master water meter. The city would read one master water meter and bill a designated billing party; that billing party may divide charges internally as it sees fit. Staff also told the commission that the homeowners association (HOA) typically would be responsible for the dumpster service and associated billing arrangements.

Commissioner Wood moved to recommend approval of the proposed code amendment requiring dumpsters for multifamily developments of three or more units; Commissioner Mook seconded. The commission voted yes: Commissioners Mook, Nixon, Wood, Hoffman, Tolman and Buck. The recommendation was forwarded to City Council with a unanimous positive recommendation.

Staff said the requirement would apply to developments approved after the ordinance takes effect; existing developments would not be retroactively required to install dumpsters under the amendment as described at the meeting.