Santaquin DRC tables AmSource preliminary plat over utility, hydrant and ownership issues

The Santaquin City Development Review Committee on Jan. 28 tabled the preliminary plat for the AmSource subdivision, a proposed six-lot commercial subdivision located just east of the Big O Tires site between the Big O Tires building and the 900 East frontage road.

Committee members said the plat requires corrections and additional documentation before the planning commission can consider approval. The DRC’s action was to table the item until the applicant addresses red-line comments from city engineering, planning and public-safety staff.

DRC staff and department reviewers outlined the outstanding issues. Public works staff noted existing utilities stubbed to the site, including an 8-inch water line and an 8-inch sewer stub, and said the proposed design includes a future loop tying into Main Street farther west near the Maverick entrance. Planning staff flagged a mismatch between construction drawings that show an area for dedication and a plat that lacks that dedication. Planning also said the plat must use an updated signature block because the city council no longer approves subdivisions; the planning commission is the approval body for preliminary plats.

Fire Department staff recommended changes intended to reduce future disruptions and speed future development. Fire Chief Lind said it would be helpful to “have a fire hydrant on the south side of Main Street” inside the subdivision footprint to avoid closing Main Street when tapping hydrants. He also recommended adding a hydrant and installing a 6-inch stubbed fire line, or riser, into each lot so future occupancies that require suppression systems would not have to cut into pavement later. Staff also noted two internal hydrants shown on the plan are about 150 feet apart and suggested spacing them farther apart.

Engineering staff raised technical comments about storm-drain documentation not matching plan sheets and asked for slopes and lengths for a sewer run that currently appears to exceed the city maximum grade of 12 percent. Reviewers also asked the applicant to relocate an infiltration gallery farther south to account for a future Main Street widening and interchange project.

Other items the DRC required before the plat advances included a letter from the current property owner, BCP Incorporated, stating consent to the subdivision; a signature block for Comcast (which is installing facilities in Santaquin); verification or release for a 50-foot easement that staff believes was vacated; and clarification of a watershed protection easement shown by dashed lines on the plat.

Planning staff reminded the applicant that the internal drive aisles will be private (no city rights-of-way) and that public-utility easements (PUEs) must be shown either in drive aisles or along lot lines so utility companies have legal access.

A motion to table the AmSource preliminary plat was made, seconded and carried; the committee instructed staff to forward the red-line comments to the applicant and to schedule follow-up conversations as needed to resolve audio and plan-set issues encountered during the review.

Next steps: the applicant will address red-line comments, provide the requested owner letter and revised plan set, and return to the DRC or proceed to the planning commission once outstanding items are resolved.