Commission holds public hearing on McKinsey storage project, continues development agreement to March for further review

The Riverton Planning Commission opened a public hearing on a proposal to rezone roughly 5.63 acres at 12270 South 4000 West from R-3 (low-density residential) to CR (Regional Commercial) and to approve an associated development agreement that would permit construction of self-storage buildings. After public comment and a staff presentation, the commission voted to continue the development-agreement discussion to a March meeting so the agreement text and technical analyses can be completed.

Planning staff summarized the site and history: the property was platted in 2006 but never fully developed; part of the dedicated, unimproved right of way and a detention basin exist on the site. Staff said the current hearing was intended to gather public comment and that detailed review of the development agreement and technical provisions would be deferred to a later meeting. "We are not discussing the agreement itself this evening," staff said, and added the hearing provides the public an opportunity to comment and for staff to incorporate concerns into the materials that will return to the commission.

Two neighbors spoke during the public comment period. One resident identified only as Matt said his primary concern was traffic on 4000 West and asked whether additional traffic studies or roadway changes would be required. Local business owner Jared Hamilton provided market data and a written submission to the record arguing the community is already oversupplied with self-storage capacity; he said that additional storage would depress occupancy and reduce private investment in maintenance. Hamilton provided the commission with occupancy and square-footage figures and asked the commission to consider the broader economic effects; staff accepted his documents for the record and said they would be entered into the application file.

Staff responded to substantive concerns by noting (1) the rezoning notice area had been 1,000 feet; (2) the site plan shows perimeter landscaping and masonry fencing where noncompatible uses meet residential lots; and (3) typical self-storage operations generate low daily trip counts once stabilized—staff estimated about a dozen vehicle trips per day on average for a storage facility, with higher volumes on Saturdays. Commissioners asked about potential roadway widening and about height limits in the CR zone; staff said the development agreement will include specific limitations on height and placement and that any road improvements tied to broader development could be addressed through future transportation planning.

Commissioner Clough moved to continue item PLZ-254001 (DAI Utah development agreement) to the March meeting; Commissioner Park seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Staff confirmed that continuing the item will trigger a courtesy re-noticing to the same recipients so the public receives updated materials before the decision meeting.

The record remains open for the development agreement and site-plan details that will return to the Planning Commission at the continued hearing.