Choice Builders seeks 103.7-foot cul‑de‑sac variance; council puts request on consent

Jeffrey Chestnut, counsel for Choice Builders, asked Cedar City Council members on April 16 to approve a variance from the city’s engineering standard limiting cul‑de‑sac length to 500 feet. The request concerns a Church Canyon PUD phase where, as measured from the near right‑of‑way of the intersecting street to the cul‑de‑sac center, the proposed road length is 603.71 feet — 103.71 feet longer than the code standard.

Chestnut said financing changes, including a move to a Public Infrastructure District, prompted the late‑stage request. He reported Choice Builders worked with the fire marshal and public works and proposed enlarging the cul‑de‑sac bulb from the typical 100‑foot diameter to 111 feet to allow a 96‑foot face‑to‑face of curb to curb and accommodate emergency and maintenance vehicles. The fire marshal and public works staff told the council they were satisfied that the larger bulb would permit vehicle turnarounds and ongoing maintenance.

Council members questioned precedent and whether the city’s 500‑foot limit should be revisited. Staff noted the engineering guidance commonly allows longer cul‑de‑sac lengths (the engineering guideline cited in discussion referenced a 700‑ to 750‑foot upper limit in other codes or fire guidance) and suggested the council could consider an ordinance change to expand allowable lengths with conditions. Because the project faces a financing deadline tied to May 29, Chestnut requested an administrative accommodation rather than pursuing a code change before that date.

Council and staff agreed to place the request on the consent agenda for upcoming action. No formal variance adoption vote was recorded at the work meeting; staff will include the item on the formal consent/action agenda for the next council meeting.