Emery County commissioners tighten policy on conditional use permits for nonconforming lots after resident complaints

The Emery County Commission spent a large portion of its meeting discussing planning, code enforcement and how the county treats nonconforming lots in mountain and rural zones. Commissioners approved multiple actions: sending a planning‑commission response letter to a resident, approving a planning commission recommendation for a conditional use permit with conditions, and adopting a county policy to stop issuing conditional use permits for nonconforming lots while directing staff to develop a commercial zoning ordinance.

The discussion began with citizen concerns about encampments on privately owned lots near Huntington. Tyler Jess, who identified himself as a concerned citizen and a member of the Planning and Zoning Committee, asked how the county enforces ordinances and said two properties near the south end of Huntington — one owned by West Hilliard and the other by Janelle Johnson — had become long‑term…