Morgan County Planning Commission approves four plat amendments, forwards Halston rezone to County Commission

The Morgan County Planning Commission on Feb. 27, 2025, voted unanimously to approve or recommend approval of four subdivision and plat-amendment applications and forwarded a rezone application for 4.31 acres near Trappers Loop to the Morgan County Commission.

Planning staff said each application met county code review standards and the appropriate reviewers — the county surveyor, county engineer, county recorder and the fire department where applicable — had submitted comments recommending approval. "County staff reviewed the submittal and found that it meets all of our minimum code requirements," a planning staff member told the commission when presenting the WPR Phase 3C application (application 24.068).

WPR Phase 3C (application 24.068) requested preliminary and final plat approval for a small subdivision of eight lots on about 60.66 acres in the Wasatch Peaks area. Planning staff said the submittal was reviewed against Morgan County Land Use Code section 155.407 (preliminary plat standards) and section 155.415 (final plat standards) and recommended approval. Member Wilson moved approval; member Maloney seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The commission recommended approval to the County Commission for the Heights at Whisper Ridge amended plat No. 2 (application 24.065), which involves lot-line adjustments affecting lots 205, 206, 207 and 208 in the subdivision and reduces four lots to three. Planning staff said the combined acreage for the affected parcels is about 4.77 acres and that the proposal meets Morgan County Land Use Code sections 155.444–155.447. Craig North represented multiple property owners; the applicant was not present. Member Murugan moved the recommendation; member Bishop seconded. The commission voted unanimously to forward the application.

Cottonwoods Phase 7B amended plat No. 3 (application 24.063) was presented as a consolidation of two lots into one on about 0.61 combined acres at 3049 and 3059 West Summit View Circle. Planning staff said the county surveyor, engineer, recorder and the fire department reviewed the request and recommended approval to the County Commission. Member McMillan moved the recommendation and member Maloney seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Giles Estates plat amendment No. 1 (application 24.061) covered adjustments to four of five lots in the subdivision at consecutive addresses on South Morgan Valley Drive, with combined acreage of about 6.63 acres. Planning staff noted the subdivision is split-zoned (rural residential 1-acre minimum and agricultural A-20) and said reviewers had returned comments supporting approval. Commissioners asked about utility easements flagged on the proposed amended plat; staff said that to remove an existing utility easement a signed letter from the utility company is required and that no such letters had been supplied to staff at the time of the meeting. Member Wilson moved the recommendation; member Bishop seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The commission also held a public hearing and voted to forward a positive recommendation to the County Commission on the Halston rezone (application 24.079). The applicant, Kelvin Judd, represented the Halston Family Trust requesting a rezone of approximately 4.31 acres at or near 4937 West Old Highway Road from neighborhood commercial to town center. Planning staff said the County's future land use map already designates the site for town center uses and that the proposed zoning would be consistent with surrounding multi-family and commercial development. There were no public comments during the hearing. Member McMillan moved to forward a positive recommendation; member Murray seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance: - WPR Phase 3C small subdivision (app. 24.068): approval of preliminary and final plat for an 8-lot small subdivision (~60.66 acres). Mover: Member Wilson; Second: Member Maloney; Outcome: approved unanimously (individual roll-call not recorded in transcript). - Heights at Whisper Ridge amended plat No. 2 (app. 24.065): recommendation to County Commission for lot-line adjustments (4 lots affected, resulting in 3 lots). Mover: Member Murugan; Second: Member Bishop; Outcome: recommended unanimously. - Cottonwoods Phase 7B amended plat No. 3 (app. 24.063): recommendation to County Commission to consolidate two lots into one (~0.61 combined acres). Mover: Member McMillan; Second: Member Maloney; Outcome: recommended unanimously. - Giles Estates plat amendment No. 1 (app. 24.061): recommendation to County Commission for lot combinations affecting four lots (~6.63 combined acres). Mover: Member Wilson; Second: Member Bishop; Outcome: recommended unanimously. Note: utility easement removals, if any, require signed letters from affected utility companies before recordation. - Halston rezone (app. 24.079): forwarded to County Commission a request to change 4.31 acres from neighborhood commercial to town center. Mover: Member McMillan; Second: Member Murray; Outcome: forwarded with a positive recommendation, unanimously.

Other business: Commissioners introduced Randy Watt, who introduced himself to the commission and said he had been a Morgan County resident for more than 20 years and had previously worked in law enforcement and the National Guard. "My name is Randy Watt. I've been a resident of this county a little over 20 years," Watt said. Staff announced a regional planning conference in May and upcoming open-meeting training for commissioners. The commission approved minutes from Jan. 23, 2025, and adjourned.

(Reporting based exclusively on statements made during the Feb. 27, 2025 Morgan County Planning Commission meeting.)