Centerville planning panel approves Salto Moto conditional use permit with conditions

The Centerville Planning Commission on Jan. 22 approved a conditional use permit allowing Salto Moto to operate a motorbike sales business at 1231 North 1300 West, Suite A, subject to conditions including a fire inspection, limits on test rides and a prohibition on mechanical repair unless the city amends the Shorelands Commerce Park zoning.

The commission’s action followed a staff report from community development staff, who said the applicant, Nathan Cook, requested the permit to establish vehicle and equipment sales within the Shorelands Commerce Park. The staff report concluded the proposed use meets the city’s conditional-use criteria if several mitigations are applied and recommended approval with conditions. "Staff recommends granting the applicant a conditional use permit for vehicular and equipment sales business operations, but deferring approval for the trial test use area until screening measures are established and verified through a site visit by the zoning administrator," staff said during the presentation.

Why it matters: The parcel sits in the Shorelands Commerce Park (SCP) and abuts a popular recreational trail. Commissioners weighed community welfare, neighborhood compatibility and long‑term zoning limits before approving the permit. The approval preserves limits on vehicle repair in the SCP while allowing retail activity that staff said is consistent with the park’s planned uses.

Commissioners and staff emphasized limits on repair work and noise. City staff noted that vehicular repair (classified as "vehicular repair limited") is not permitted in the SCP and that any desire to add mechanical services would require a zoning text amendment. Police Chief Ackerson was cited on enforcement and the city noise-control ordinance; staff told the commission that so long as testing is conducted during business hours and not between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., noise is not expected to be a problem given the site’s separation from other businesses and residences.

Applicant Nathan Cook told the commission his intent is a low-key showroom selling boutique dirt bikes and related merchandise and that test rides are infrequent. "If it's a headache for everyone, we can just say, like, no test runs on there," Cook said, adding he was willing to limit test rides to the parcel with the building. Cook also confirmed ownership of the adjoining parcel initially proposed for test runs and said he would modify the application to confine trialing to the parcel where the showroom is located.

The commission’s written conditions, read into the record as part of the motion, included: (1) the conditional use approval shall not be transferred without city approval; (2) the operator must schedule and pass a fire inspection by South Davis Metro Fire Department; (3) no mechanical repair shall occur on the property unless and until a zoning text amendment allows it in the SCP; (4) any vehicle trialing/testing shall occur only during business hours and not between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.; (5) trialing/testing shall occur only on the parcel containing the building (parcel ending in 1); (6) mandatory parking stalls shall not be used to store vehicles for sale and 38 parking stalls shall be maintained for staff and public use; (7) the business must obey all applicable local, state and federal rules and the city noise ordinance; and (8) deviations may initiate the conditional-use‑permit revocation process per city zoning code.

Motion and vote: A commissioner moved to approve the modified conditional use permit and a second was recorded. The commission voted to approve the application; the chair announced the vote was unanimous.

The commission closed the public hearing after no members of the public came forward to comment.

Looking ahead: Staff will verify screening and dust‑mitigation measures if trial test use is proposed in the future; any change to allow mechanical repair would require a formal zoning amendment and separate approvals.