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Planning commission backs rezoning to Commercial Gateway but rejects auto‑dealership code change
Summary
Riverton planning commissioners recommended rezoning two parcels on 126 South from Commercial Neighborhood to Commercial Gateway but voted to recommend denial of a city code amendment that would have made auto dealerships a conditional use citywide in the CG zone.
The Riverton City Planning Commission on Sept. 25 recommended that the City Council rezone two parcels at 2630 and 2610 West 126 South from Commercial Neighborhood (CN) to Commercial Gateway (CG), but the commission voted separately to recommend denial of a proposed text amendment that would have added new or used auto dealerships as a conditional use in the CG zone.
On the rezone: staff presented the requested rezoning (PLZ 25‑4006) and noted the parcels total about 1.16 acres. Staff said CG is more consistent with surrounding newer commercial development and with the general plan’s designation for the corridor. Commissioners discussed that rezoning would change the set of allowed uses for the parcels and could permit a wider range of commercial activity; the specific use would still require separate approvals. The commission moved and then unanimously recommended rezoning the parcels to CG. The recommendation will go to the City Council, which has final authority.
On the code amendment: separately, the city proposed PLZ 25‑5008, edits to the land‑use code (Table of Commercial Uses 18.9.0.01 and conditional uses 18.7.0.03) to allow new or used auto dealerships as a conditional use in CG, subject to specific conditions in the draft language: minimum site size of one acre, frontage on 126 South and/or Bangerter Highway, a finished commercial site plan, and a permanent, compliant sales/office building. Staff said the conditions were intended to limit small, temporary or gravel‑pad operations.
Applicants Richard Ortiz and Marco (identified in the public record as Marco Musillo) said they had purchased the property and planned a used‑car dealership (inventory 2016 or newer), described investment plans and community outreach (proposed internships and vehicle donations to local schools). Neighbors and business owners opposed the text amendment during public comment: Gerald Broderick, owner of a nearby fourplex, asked about access, lighting and traffic; Christy Cox (Diagnostic Automotive) and Catherine Parnell (owner of Anew View Counseling) expressed concerns about clustering automotive businesses downtown, noise and potential impacts to a mental‑health clinic adjacent to the site and to nearby schools.
Commission discussion focused on appropriate locations for dealerships and the effect of a text change across all CG‑zoned properties, not just the subject parcel. Several commissioners said allowing auto dealerships along Bangerter Highway could be acceptable but that allowing them broadly along 126 South would change the corridor’s character and create unintended openings for similar uses downtown. Commissioner Rushton moved to recommend denial of the text amendment; Commissioner Beck seconded. The motion to recommend denial passed, 5‑0, with Commissioner Cannon recused from the text‑amendment vote.
Next steps: the rezone recommendation and the text‑amendment recommendation will both go to the City Council for final action. The commission’s rezone recommendation does not authorize any specific development; future site plan, conditional‑use or building permit reviews would apply if the council approves the rezoning.
