Planning commission recommends rezone to commercial for 1.5-acre parcel near Antelope Drive; commissioners raise golf-course and traffic concerns

The Syracuse Planning Commission on July 1, 2025 voted to recommend that the Syracuse City Council amend the general plan map and rezone about 1.5 acres near 3400 West and Antelope Drive (1700 South) from medium-density residential (R-1) to general commercial. The recommendation would make a small pocket of land contiguous with existing commercial zoning along Antelope Drive.

The application, submitted by Fort Street Partners (applicant identified online as Rick), proposes commercial development on two small parcels directly west of Glen Eagle Golf Club’s clubhouse. The applicant told the commission the rezone is needed, in part, to allow a second vehicle entrance aligned with an existing roadway across Antelope Drive; the applicant said UDOT (Utah Department of Transportation) would require that alignment and that without commercial zoning the required second entrance would not be permitted at that location.

Owner and manager of Glen Eagle Golf Club, Michael McBride, addressed the commission and said the family that owns the golf course supports the rezone and that relatives' lots provide a roughly 1.5-acre buffer between residential homes and the proposed commercial area. McBride said he did not believe the development would be detrimental to the golf course.

Several commissioners and commenters raised concerns about proximity to the golf course, the potential for errant golf balls striking vehicles or buildings and the adequacy of proposed mitigation. An unnamed commissioner said they feared frequent errant shots could cause problems; the applicant responded that the long-term site plan would include netting and other mitigations and that comparable projects have used tall netting (applicant said roughly 50-foot netting was used elsewhere) and building orientation to reduce risk.

Planning staff explained that the golf-course parcels are zoned A-1 and that the city’s buffer/fencing and landscaping requirements apply based on use compatibility; staff also said the applicant is working with the golf course on parcel adjustments to accommodate depth and UDOT has long-term plans to widen Antelope Drive. Staff noted that detailed mitigation measures (netting height, fences, landscaping) would be reviewed during future site-plan and subdivision processes if the rezone is approved.

A commissioner asked whether the city or applicant had standards for netting height or other precedents; staff said city code does not specify detailed netting standards between a golf course and commercial uses and that mitigation could be addressed through the site-plan stage, fencing/landscaping buffers and building design.

After discussion, a motion recommending approval to the city council was made and seconded. The commission approved the recommendation by voice vote with one recorded opposed: Commissioner Karianne Lisonbee.

(Ending) The matter now moves to Syracuse City Council for final action; if the council approves the map amendment and rezoning, specific site plans, subdivision plats and road-frontage improvements will return to the city for review and permitting, including coordination with UDOT on Antelope Drive improvements.