Bountiful council discusses allowing Lakeview Mortuaries event venue in residential zones; primary concerns are noise and traffic

Bountiful City Council members spent the bulk of their Jan. 28 work session discussing a proposal from Lakeview Mortuaries to allow public or private assembly uses — described by the applicant as a multipurpose event/reception space for funerals, weddings and similar gatherings — in residential zones.

The proposal before council is a land‑use code text amendment submitted by the applicant. Planning staff summarized the item and the Planning Commission’s recommendation, and said the commission forwarded a positive recommendation but the council had previously requested further work sessions before deciding. Staff identified the primary concerns as spatial separation from single‑family homes, increased traffic and event noise mitigation.

The applicant amended its request after a Jan. 16 meeting with staff. In the updated proposal the applicant offered the following limitations and assurances: a minimum site size increased from 3 acres to 10 acres, a minimum setback from property lines increased from 75 feet to 150 feet, limiting access for events to Bountiful Boulevard (avoiding Lakeview Drive and Millbrook Way ingress/egress for event traffic), an offered measurable noise limit of 78 decibels measured at 150 feet from the gathering space, the ability to submit a traffic study with a site plan or conditional use permit application, and proposed hours of operation described in their submittal (the applicant said they were…