Planning commission approves preliminary site plan and parking reduction for Smith’s Fuel Center at 10305 S. 1300 E., with conditions

The Sandy City Planning Commission approved a preliminary site plan for a new Smith’s Fuel Center (projected as Fuel Center No. 153) on the southwest corner of the shopping center at 10305 South 1300 East, granted a requested 10% reduction in required on‑site parking, and required off‑site traffic improvements including a new signalized driveway on 1300 East.

Development services manager Doug Wheelwright summarized the proposal and staff analysis. The plan creates a new lot in the southwest corner of the center for a fuel canopy and small employee kiosk, proposes a new driveway and signalized intersection on 1300 East, and will require substantial regrading, retaining walls and the removal and replacement of site trees. Wheelwright said the site currently contains approximately 934 parking stalls; by code the typical retail requirement would be 867 stalls, and the proposed site plan would result in 783 stalls (a reduction of about 10% from the code requirement). He said the applicant provided a parking demand analysis (including ITE methodology and on‑site counts) and a parking‑management plan that supported the requested reduction; staff concluded the requested 10% reduction was justified.

James Copeland of AWA Engineering and Brian Palmer for the property owner (Smith’s/Kroger) explained the design challenges, including steep grades, retaining walls and the need to reconfigure access. Copeland said the new signalized driveway location was chosen for access-spacing and control reasons; he and staff said the equestrian/trailhead access to the south (the Wrangler Trailhead) is controlled by another property owner and has steep grades that complicate using that existing driveway for the signalized intersection.

Assistant public works director and city engineer Britney Ward and transportation engineer Ivan Hooper summarized traffic considerations. Ward said redistribution of left‑turning traffic from Seagull Lily Drive to the new signal on 1300 East was a goal and that the city will continue to monitor Seagull Lily Drive; she said a raised median on Seagull Lily is a potential future safety measure but is not part of the current approval. Hooper described the proposed intersection as a “high‑T” configuration designed to maintain free flow on the arterial while providing protected movements into the site.

Staff reported a tree inventory: of about 60 trees on the overall shopping center site, 23 would be removed for the project (8 for the new parking/regrading, 5 for the new driveway, 1 for an ADA ramp and 9 that are dead or nearly dead); staff and the city arborist recommended replacement and additional landscaping. The commission discussed resident concerns about driveway location, grading, truck deliveries, and potential light and noise impacts on nearby homes. Residents and online commenters requested design measures to limit headlight spill and overnight fueling noise; staff and the applicant said typical fuel deliveries are 1–2 per day and that tanks and fuel-delivery maneuvering had been reviewed.

After discussion the commission voted to approve the preliminary site plan, grant the 10% parking reduction, and require the off‑site traffic improvements on 1300 East (including the proposed signal). The commission also asked staff to remove a previously suggested future study requirement about Seagull Lily Drive from the staff recommendation and added a condition that staff perform a light‑distribution analysis during final site‑plan review and require mitigation as appropriate to limit direct lighting into neighboring properties.

The approval is preliminary; final engineering, landscaping, tree‑replacement plans and any required construction permits will be addressed during final site‑plan and building permit review.