Council continues vote on DAI storage-unit development agreement so staff and applicant can finalize language

Riverton City Council continued a development-agreement rezone and preliminary site plan for a DAI proposal to build a self-storage facility with accessory outdoor vehicle storage near 126 South and 4000 West.

What the project proposes

The applicant (DAI) presented a site plan showing phased development: Phase 1 would build single-story storage buildings along the south frontage and vehicle storage to the north; Phase 2 would complete additional storage buildings. The development agreement before council would rezone the platted-but-undeveloped subdivision to CR (commercial regional) and restrict the property's uses to a storage facility with accessory outdoor vehicle storage. The draft agreement also proposes a signage "tower" in lieu of a standard pole sign and architectural and material standards for the buildings.

Staff and applicant clarifications

Planning staff said the site was platted in 2006 but never built; the city's road dedication and an existing detention pond remain on the record and must be addressed as part of the proposal. The applicant provided a traffic study concluding the storage use would generate traffic at or below what had been expected for a residential development; the study recommended no additional right-of-way or deceleration lanes on Fortieth West.

Exceptions requested in the development agreement

The draft development agreement included three notable departures from the city's typical commercial standards:

- Landscape buffer: waivers were requested along the property's northeast edge where mature landscaping and tree coverage already exist on the adjacent church property, and where residents told staff the existing landscaping provides a visual buffer. - Reduced front setback: the applicant requested a 36-foot building setback for two buildings instead of the 40-foot standard; the immediate adjacent owner provided a letter indicating no objection to that reduced setback. - Signage: the applicant proposed a site-integrated "sign tower" attached to building massing in place of a conventional 25-foot pole sign; the text in the development agreement would allow the tower in the Bangerter Highway-facing frontage.

Public comment and council concerns

Residents who live near 4000 West urged the council to consider long-term traffic patterns and shortcutting behavior that has increased local cut-through traffic. Resident Matt Yore said app-based navigation and local traffic patterns have turned 4000 West into a commuter shortcut with safety and volume concerns near the proposed site.

Council requested stronger, explicit contract language to clarify the property's long-term allowed uses beyond the development-agreement term (the draft contained a 15-year term). Council member McDougall said the council should ensure the final agreement either preserves the site's use as storage beyond the agreement term or otherwise explicitly states the allowed uses after expiration so neighbors know long-term expectations.

Action taken

Council voted to continue consideration of the development agreement and rezone (ordinance 25-15) to the May 20 council meeting and asked staff and the applicant to supply clarified contract language about retained uses after the agreement term, detention/pond details and the limited exceptions described above. The continuation vote carried unanimously.

Why it matters

The site is a previously platted residential subdivision that never developed. The proposed storage use would alter expectations for future development on the site; council sought contract certainty and clearer language on long-term use before approving a rezone and development agreement.