Council approves Desert Overlay District and master-plan zoning after hours-long presentation from developer

Grantsville — After a multi-hour presentation May 21, the Grantsville City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-28, creating the Desert Overlay District for the Desert Peak/Deseret master-plan project near Mack Canyon Road.

Developers and planning staff described the overlay as a zoning-layer document that assigns planning areas, land-use designations (residential, residential-flex, commercial, commercial-flex, neighborhood commercial, open space and parks), unit allocations, development standards and a package of design and infrastructure commitments. The presentation emphasized town-center concepts, neighborhood parks, and a multi-mile trail network that will follow drainage corridors.

Why it matters: the overlay converts a previously approved mixed-use zoning concept into a more detailed framework that councilors and staff said is intended to provide predictability for large-scale infrastructure and park planning and to support future development agreements. Developers said the overlay and a later master development agreement are prerequisites for large infrastructure financing they plan to pursue.

Key commitments by developers: they presented a number of limits and commitments embedded in the overlay, including a capped amount of residential acreage within commercial-flex areas (30 acres maximum), a designation of roughly 445 acres of parks and open space across the project, a community park that would be built in phases and turned over to the city, and a “moderate-income housing” allotment totaling about 25 acres (the developers said this could yield about 100–300 units depending on product type). The developers also said they have approvals in place for public infrastructure financing districts (PIDs) that would help fund on-site infrastructure.

Council concerns and discussion: Council members pressed developers on phasing, park completion timing and maintenance costs once parks are turned over to the city. Developers said they had tied park-completion triggers to certificate-of-occupancy phases and were open to negotiating detailed phase triggers in a development agreement. Councilors also asked about utility supply, water-rights strategy and wastewater reuse; developers said they are pursuing water rights and are open to discussions about tertiary wastewater reuse but noted some state approvals are on pause.

Design standards and deviations: The overlay includes several requested deviations from existing city standards (reduced front setbacks for living space while keeping driveways deep enough for vehicle parking, reduced side-yard setbacks in some product types, narrower lot frontages with deeper lots, and new product types labeled “green courts” and “motor-court” clustered homes). Developers said these deviations allow a broader product mix and help the project “pencil” financially while still meeting architectural and landscaping standards included in the overlay.

Outcome and follow-up: Ordinance 2025-28 passed on a unanimous voice vote. Council members asked staff to return with the development agreement that will set build phases, CO triggers and maintenance and fiscal commitments. Developers said they will continue negotiating a development agreement with the city.