Commission recommends design changes, urges mountain-style materials for Quarry Junction Lot 6 office building

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission recommended that the community development director request architectural changes to a proposed 10,945-square-foot office building on Lot 6 of Quarry Junction at Pinebrook Subdivision, saying the submitted elevations read as a “boxy” commercial structure rather than a building that reflects the area’s mountain-resort character.

Amir (county staff) presented the low-impact permit application and told commissioners the project is roughly 10,945 square feet, about 32 feet tall at the highest point, and that the development agreement for Quarry Village allows up to three stories. Staff verified entitlements under both code and the development agreement and recommended a positive recommendation to the community development director.

Commissioners and attendees asked about potential future uses, parking and the possibility of a restaurant. Michael Anderson of Core Architecture said the building is proposed to be adaptable to retail or office uses; conversion to a restaurant would require adding a grease trap and additional plumbing. Amir confirmed the site includes an existing green space and a bench adjacent to the Kodiak Cakes building to preserve pedestrian amenity.

Several commissioners expressed frustration with the building’s current exterior treatment. One commissioner noted the development code’s stated goals to “preserve natural open space and vistas, prevent suburban sprawl, and promote our mountain resort community,” and said the current elevations look “too suburban” and “boxy.” The applicant’s team said the design includes masonry around the base of the pedestrian facades and awning features and that color and material palette remained open for discussion.

A commissioner moved that the commission recommend the community development director require architecture that better matches the surrounding neighborhood and avoid a “box look.” The motion passed in a roll-call vote recorded in the meeting: Commissioners McKenzie and Young voted aye; Commissioner Nagy abstained; Commissioners Jeffrey and Peterroy voted aye; and the presiding commissioner also recorded an aye. The commission asked staff to pass the recommendation to the community development director for consideration during final low-impact permit review.

Staff and the applicant said parking changes are not proposed for Lot 6; the applicant reported 19 existing stalls that would serve the site and said overflow could use adjacent lots. Engineering staff said they had not identified a parking shortage in project review and that peak-hour patterns were considered.

The commission’s recommendation is advisory to the community development director, who will make final decisions on the low-impact permit and architectural details.