High Star Ranch resident urges council to enforce development agreement after owner signals hotel plan

Sanford Melville, a full-time resident of High Star Ranch, told the Kamas City Council during public comment that a new investor recently told homeowners the parcel containing the DeJoria Center and country store — the Event Barn parcel — is for sale and a prospective buyer has discussed plans for a 150-room hotel visible from Highway 32.

Melville said he has not seen any written proposals but that he understands an item related to the property will appear on next month’s Planning Commission agenda. He urged the council to “conservatively interpret the development agreement and really hold the developer to what he agreed to,” saying a large hotel would be “somewhat inconsistent with the rural nature of the community.”

In reply, a councilmember clarified that a development agreement recorded against the parcels grants certain entitlements and that if the parcels are annexed the city will evaluate zoning consistency, infrastructure impacts and potential site-plan requirements. Staff later confirmed that the annexation item discussed in the meeting would involve nearby parcels and that Planning Commission review would be required for any future changes.

Melville asked the council to limit changes to height, density and setbacks beyond what the development agreement allows. Council members and staff noted that a recorded development agreement can create baseline entitlements but that any variance, lot-line change or higher-density request would come back to the city for review.

No application, plan, or formal proposal was presented at the meeting; Melville said the developer discussion was verbal and that a related Planning Commission item is expected next month.