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Staff and commissioners flag survey, safety concerns in pending Emigration Canyon fence request
Summary
Planning staff described missing survey information and potential sight‑distance and right‑of‑way problems in a pending fence request; commissioners and staff urged the applicant to obtain a survey and address traffic‑safety impacts before a formal application is processed.
Planning staff and commissioners on July 10 raised safety and property‑line concerns over an applicant’s proposed fence along Emigration Canyon Road, and urged the applicant to provide a formal application with a current survey before the commission considers any waiver or relief.
Staff told the commission the applicant’s submittal included a 2015 survey that showed a structure since demolished and did not clearly locate the property line relative to the public right‑of‑way and the county guardrail. Planners said the proposed fence alignment may encroach on county right‑of‑way, creating a risk that the applicant would build on land not owned by the property owner.
Commissioners and staff also raised sight‑distance and public‑safety concerns. Staff noted that a five‑ or six‑foot opaque fence near the road could obstruct drivers’ or bicyclists’ views and create blind spots for vehicles backing from driveways; the current code’s 42‑inch limit along the canyon road is intended to preserve sight lines. The applicant was advised to obtain a current boundary survey and coordinate with staff and the county about the right‑of‑way and safety standards before a formal application is filed.
Planning staff said that as of the July meeting there was not a complete formal application; the discussion was preliminary, intended to inform the applicant of missing materials and the standards that will guide review. Staff said once a complete application is filed it will include a traffic‑safety review and, if necessary, referral to the city’s traffic or engineering reviewer for sight‑distance analysis.
Commissioners indicated they would want to see a survey and evidence the fence proposal does not encroach on county property before considering relief from the 42‑inch roadside standard. Staff added that if the applicant seeks a variance or conditional relief, the application must clearly justify how the proposal meets the ordinance standards and demonstrate that it will not create a public‑safety hazard.
