Planning commission approves preliminary plat for Desert Dunes at Desert Sands with staff conditions

Hurricane City’s Planning Commission voted Feb. 27 to approve the preliminary plat (PP25-06) for Desert Dunes at Desert Sands, a proposed 100-unit patio‑home subdivision at 4750 West Dixie Springs Drive. The applicant is listed as The Hollows LLC with DSG Engineering as agent.

The applicant described the project as the next phase of a larger master plan, proposing 2,000–2,500 square‑foot, two-level patio homes and internal amenities tied to a master HOA. Commissioners and staff discussed engineering comments, notably a cut/fill slope standard that limits retaining walls or exposed cut slopes to 16 feet; the developer’s materials showed a 22‑foot condition in places. The applicant asked staff to exercise discretion on that standard and indicated they would raise building pads and work with engineering to reduce visible slope and retain required access. The developer also described plans for a roughly 1.25‑mile primitive trail around a knoll, a trailhead with restrooms near the north side, and a trail connection to internal sidewalks. The applicant said the master HOA would own and maintain the trail and other common areas, and that the HOA would hire landscape maintenance contractors for shared space.

Commissioners asked about subdivision improvement requirements; staff reiterated that if the proposed lots are later platted as separate lots, frontage, curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements would be required during subdivision review. The commission approved the preliminary plat subject to staff and engineering comments to be addressed during subsequent design-review submittals.

The approval was recorded as a voice vote; commissioners stated the intention to continue working with the applicant on slope mitigation, retaining walls, and trail access design as the project advances to final plat and engineering review.