Royce City planning commissioners ask staff to study parking standards, recessed parking for new multifamily projects

Royce City Planning Commission members spent the bulk of their July 22 work session discussing parking shortfalls tied to recent multifamily and townhome developments and directed staff to research potential code and design options, including recessed (indented) parking and modifications to setback/open-space requirements.

Commissioner Tanner, who raised the issue at the meeting, said the problem is visible in satellite imagery and social-media reports showing vehicles parked on Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) property along Airport Road (1750 West). "People's the car safety, traffic safety, pedestrian safety is is priority number 1 when it comes to wintertime," Tanner said, citing problems with snow removal and road maintenance when streets are lined with stored vehicles.

Why it matters: Commissioners said spillover parking from private developments onto city streets is creating safety and maintenance burdens — from obstructed sidewalks to delayed road work that can increase city costs. The commission debated tools that could reduce on-street storage of boats, trailers and extra vehicles often associated…