Garden City council approves final plat for Reestown Homes subdivision

The Garden City City Council voted to approve the final plat for SUB FY2024-3, Reestown Homes, at its April 29 meeting.

The approval covers a planned unit development final plat for 32 lots composed of 26 townhomes, two duplexes and four common lots on property southwest of the Chinden and Orchard intersection. The council voted by roll call to adopt staff findings and conclusions of law and approve the final plat.

Why it matters: the decision clears the way for the applicant to proceed to building permit and construction steps subject to the conditions of approval in the staff report. The project drew limited public comment and staff and the applicant said the final plat reflected few changes from the preliminary approval.

Planner and applicant statements: Mr. Hatch, presenting the final plat, told the council the final plat and site plan contain no substantial changes from the approved preliminary plat and that the landscaping plan remains unchanged. He said an arborist report concluded trees proposed for removal were “poor, dying, or deteriorating,” and that a traffic study was not required because the project falls below the ACHD threshold. Director Thornborough confirmed the application had been processed as a planned unit development for 32 lots (26 townhomes, two duplexes and four common lots) and that waivers previously requested included permitting more than four units on a common drive and setbacks, and a request to extend the application duration to five years.

Applicant remarks: Mr. Chancellor, who identified himself as the project applicant, said he acquired and cleared the property and described the development as a step toward revitalizing the southern side of Chinden. “I think this is kind of the next step in that progression,” he said.

Council action and vote: Council member Spare moved to approve the final plat for SUB FY2024-3 (Reestown Homes) and to adopt the staff findings and conclusions of law. The motion was seconded. Roll call recorded Council member Jacobs — yes; Council member Page — yes; Council member Rasmussen — yes. The motion carried and the final plat was approved.

Conditions and next steps: Staff noted tree mitigation will be required for any trees not found to be dead or dying and that the project must meet applicable fire and life-safety codes during permitting. No additional traffic study was required at this stage based on ACHD standards. The council closed the public hearing and moved to deliberations before voting to approve the final plat.

The council did not identify any additional modifications to conditions at the meeting; the project will proceed under the approved final plat and the conditions in the decision document.