Planning commission clears IME Holdings preliminary site plan, asks for finished construction drawings

The Toquerville Planning Commission recommended approval of a preliminary site plan submitted by IME Holdings for property zoned BMP (business and manufacturing), contingent on completion of final construction documents and required engineer signatures.

Planning staff said the submitted site plan meets zoning requirements and that most red-line comments on the construction drawings have been addressed; the outstanding item is the engineer’s signature and several minor drainage clarifications. The commission approved forwarding the preliminary site plan with that condition.

Assistant City Manager Darren provided an engineering and projects update during the same agenda segment and confirmed the reviewer exchanges with the applicant on drainage and grading. An IME representative described the proposed facility as a roughly 20,000-square-foot building that includes about 16,000 square feet of floor space for manufacturing and double-story office space. The applicant said the team has grown from a handful of workers four years ago to more than 20 now, and projected that, if permits and supplies proceed without delay, the building could be ready in about seven months after a building permit is issued.

Commissioners asked about phasing and the deed: the applicant said phase 1 was being built now as the full building rather than a partial shell and that phases 2 and 3 might be combined in a future expansion. The applicant said the site has room for substantial additional square footage in later phases—potentially tens of thousands of square feet depending on parking and landscaping requirements—and that utilities and drainage plans remain part of the final site approval package.

The commission’s motion to recommend approval included explicit conditions that staff receive the final construction drawings (grading plans, landscaping plans, utility plans, drainage details) and the engineer’s signature before final site approval is granted. Staff confirmed that final site approval would be completed through administrative staff review and legal clearance.

If the City Council or staff grant final permits after the required documents are complete, the applicant anticipates construction of the first building and potential future expansion. The applicant also said the business integrates robotics and automation equipment into manufacturing processes and has clients nationally; the company described potential local employment opportunities if the project proceeds.