Wallsburg planning commission approves variance to allow small replica of historic Ford store

WALSBURG, Utah — The Wallsburg Town Planning Commission on April 29 unanimously granted a variance allowing property owner Rob Fawcett to place a 12-by-22-foot accessory building on the existing foundation of the former Ford store, with the condition that the new structure’s front face be designed to resemble the original store and that a rendering be approved by the Wallsburg City Council.

The decision came after a lengthy discussion about setbacks, historic preservation and whether building size would trigger county permitting. “I’m just trying to clean that area up,” Fawcett said, describing the site’s old stacked-rock foundation and a capped basement he said dated to the 1880s. He told commissioners he wanted a small outbuilding — not living quarters — and that he could reduce the size or make the structure movable if required.

Commissioners discussed multiple options to avoid county-level building-permit requirements, which the commission and applicant said can apply to buildings larger than 200 square feet. Commissioners noted that a 12-by-22-foot building equals about 264 square feet, which would normally require a county building permit and engineered drawings. The commission and applicant explored alternatives including reducing the footprint under 200 square feet, making the building removable or combining the separate parcel with the adjacent lot so the proposed structure could be treated as a side-yard accessory building rather than a front-yard placement.

Commission members also reviewed the development-code criteria for granting variances, including Wallsburg’s Section 4.30.40.1 (variance applications). Commissioner Trevor Pullum said the parcel’s existing foundation and its connection to the historic Ford/Howard store created special circumstances: “Because of the Ford store,” he said, “there are special circumstances attached to the property that do not generally apply to other properties in the same district.” The commission concluded those circumstances supported a setback variance.

The commission’s motion approved the applicant’s request to place a 12-by-22-foot accessory structure on the existing foundation and granted a variance reducing the minimum front-yard setback from 30 feet to 20 feet. The approval is conditional on a concept rendering that preserves a façade evocative of the old Ford store; the rendering must be approved by the Wallsburg City Council. Commissioners emphasized the variance applies only to dimensional requirements (setback, size) and not to changing the allowable use of the parcel: use variances are not permitted under the code, and the commission said the property could not be returned to commercial use through this action.

Commissioners also recorded practical conditions discussed at the meeting: the structure must control roof drainage; it should be designed so it could be moved if the applicant chooses the removable-structure route; and the commission encouraged a concept drawing showing the historic face to be submitted to the city council. Commissioners noted that if the applicant used the existing foundation and kept the building as sized (about 264 square feet), the county would likely require standard building drawings and signoff, which may be difficult given the age and construction of the foundation.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the variance. Commissioners in attendance who participated in discussion and the vote included Trevor Pullum, Alicia O’Driscoll, Tammy Graham, Carrie Meacom and Phil O’Driscoll. The commission asked Fawcett to bring a concept drawing to the city council for approval of the façade treatment. The commission also suggested, as alternatives, that Fawcett reduce the building footprint below 200 square feet or design the building so it would be movable to avoid county permitting requirements.

The commission closed the item after confirming next steps: applicant to provide a concept rendering and coordinate with the city council; if necessary, pursue parcel combination or a smaller/movable structure to limit county involvement.