Clarkston council adopts resolution appointing planning commissioners as land use authority

The Clarkston Town Council adopted Resolution 25-04 on March 11 to designate one or more non-elected members of the Clarkston Planning Commission as the town's land use authority, citing state law that requires municipalities to appoint a land use authority.

Mayor Hidalgo read the resolution on the record, citing Utah Code 10-9a-604(1) as the statutory basis. The resolution states that a land use authority cannot include a municipal legislative body or a member of the legislative body acting in an elected capacity, and therefore the town will appoint non-elected planning commission members to carry out land‑use review and signatures required for subdivisions.

Mayor Hidalgo moved the resolution; a councilmember seconded the motion. The council then took a roll-call vote. The transcript records the roll-call as: Mayor Hidalgo — aye; Councilmember Stevenson — aye; Councilmember Hanover — aye; Councilmember Kelly — aye; Councilmember Peterson — aye. Mayor Hidalgo announced that the Land Use Authority was now established for Clarkston.

Council members said the resolution keeps the process local while leaving open options for training and, if needed, contracting with outside land use authorities in the future. Mayor Hidalgo noted the state is beginning to require training for land use authority designees; the town may later charge applicants a fee to offset training costs or hire an outside authority on an as‑needed basis.

The resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption; the council instructed staff to work with the planning commission on training and operational details.