Board of Adjustment approves setback variance for Rocky Mountain Power Summit Park substation

The Summit County Board of Adjustment voted 3-0 to approve a setback variance for Rocky Mountain Power’s Summit Park substation, allowing equipment and security fencing to be placed inside the county's standard interstate right-of-way setback at 4969 West Kilby Road.

Planning staff told the board the existing substation and associated equipment have been at the site for more than 50 years and that the project would rebuild equipment to more modern standards. "This is a kind of a second phase... to take that double circuit 46 and 1 38 kV lines and convert it into 1 38 kV line," said Richard, a Rocky Mountain Power representative, describing part of the transmission rebuild and substation upgrades intended to improve reliability and assist wildfire mitigation.

The variance request would allow equipment and security fencing to not meet the county's typical setback for I-80, which staff said is 100 feet from the edge of the right of way. Summit County planning staff explained that the UDOT right-of-way in this stretch effectively reaches the property line and that, under strict application of current setback rules, no new equipment could be placed within the remaining buildable area shown on the site plan included in the staff report.

Board members asked about wildfire mitigation, notice to neighboring property owners and whether the upgrade was necessary to meet current standards. Planning staff and the applicant said the upgrade is part of a broader regional transmission project that raises the line voltage and brings substations to contemporary national electrical standards; the change is meant to improve reliability and allow quicker response in emergencies. Staff reported no written comments or phone calls had been received from surrounding property owners prior to the hearing.

Planning staff also told the board this is one step in a multi-stage process. Two days earlier, the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission approved a plat amendment to add land to the applicant's property; the Board of Adjustment's variance decision was the second step, and a conditional-use review for the major equipment facility will be considered by the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission in the coming weeks before any building permit is issued.

On a motion to approve the variance "for the Rocky Mountain Power Summit Park substation upgrade variance, located at 4969 West Kilby Road as outlined in the staff report and subject to the findings of fact and conclusions of law and conditions of approval in the staff report," moved by a board member and seconded by another, the board voted unanimously to approve the application. The chair announced the motion passed 3-0.

The record shows no public comments were offered at the meeting on this item. The board then moved on to approve minutes and other routine business before adjourning.