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Commission discusses reducing local pavement-width standard from 34 to 32 feet to match state law
Summary
Staff presented proposed amendments to Tooele City code 4-8-2 to reduce maximum pavement width for local streets from 34 to 32 feet and to clarify exceptions; the item was discussed but no formal action was recorded.
Planning staff recommended bringing Tooele City Code 4-8-2 (street design) into full compliance with state law by reducing the maximum pavement width of local-class streets from 34 feet to 32 feet and clarifying exceptions and minimums.
Mr. Hansen, a city staff member, said the change follows the Utah Legislature’s passage of House Bill 406 in February 2023, which set a 32-foot maximum pavement width for local streets statewide. “Previous to that point it was 34 foot; now it’s 32 foot statewide as the maximum pavement width of a local class street,” Hansen said. Tooele City previously implemented the reduction by resolution (2023-21) but Hansen said a remaining code reference needed amendment to ensure consistency.
Hansen proposed restructuring the code paragraph into three subparagraphs to: state the 32-foot pavement maximum for local streets while allowing narrower widths only through a City Council–approved planned unit development, residential special district or other formal council action; retain a requirement that any private street pavement comply with the International Fire Code and Tooele City’s fire code chapter; and keep an existing requirement for at least a 5-foot sidewalk on private streets (with staff retaining discretion not to require sidewalks on both sides in certain cases).
Hansen said the change preserves the city’s existing provision that streets narrower than 32 feet must have restricted parking to maintain emergency access. He noted the proposed code language does not change staff practice but provides clearer limits and a formal exception process that requires council approval. Commissioners and council liaisons asked about related parking studies and fire and snow-plow access; a Tula City council member and fire-department-aligned commissioners voiced support for the change as improving apparatus access and snow-clearance function.
No formal vote or ordinance action was recorded in the transcript for this agenda item; the record shows a discussion on proposed code amendments and a staff recommendation to amend the code for consistency with state law and fire-safety considerations.
