Planning commission narrowly backs PUD-12 rezoning for Riverside Park parcel after traffic and access debate

The Sandy City Planning Commission on Oct. 27 voted 4-3 to forward a recommendation to the City Council to rezone property at 9016 South Riverside Drive (near 90th South and 7th West) from Convenience Commercial (CBC) to PUD-12 after extended discussion about traffic, emergency access, school routes and neighborhood impacts.

Adam Nash, the applicant, said he revised the project's concept plan to provide a new private street and a separate residential street rather than routing residential access through commercial parking, addressing a major concern raised by staff and the commission in an earlier hearing. Nash said the revised plan relocates the shared access to 90th South and adds a street that would serve the proposed residential area and provide circulation for adjacent commercial properties.

Several residents spoke in opposition, saying the existing 7-Eleven and an engineering office already create after-hours deliveries and parking pressures behind their homes and that adding 19 units would increase overnight traffic and safety concerns. Resident Jen Archuleta, whose home backs to the site, said delivery-truck wheels have been visible over her 10-foot fence and that she feared larger traffic and safety impacts if residential units were added behind homes that were sold with expectations of limited commercial adjacency. Resident Robert Archuleta raised concerns about safe school routes and bus pickup logistics. Jeremiah Johnson, joining by webinar, echoed worries about late-night traffic near backyard fences and said commercial uses are easier to regulate than residential comings and goings.

Commissioners debated trade-offs. Some said commercial uses could generate higher peak traffic for certain operations (for example, a convenience store or drive-through), while others said the site's poor access and `orphaned'character make commercial redevelopment unlikely and that housing would be a reasonable infill use.

Two motions were attempted. A motion to forward a negative recommendation failed on a voice/roll-call tally; a later motion to forward a positive recommendation carried 4-3. The final roll call in favor recorded yes votes from Commissioners Dave Bromley, Cameron Duncan, Ron Mortimer and Lennie (Lehi) Davenport; Commissioners Danny Schoenfeld, Steve Wrigley and David Hart voted no.

The commission's recommendation will go to the City Council for a public hearing and final decision. Staff noted that detailed engineering (traffic studies, sight-distance analysis, acceleration/deceleration lanes, ADA pedestrian routes and fire-department access) and subdivision/site-plan conditions would be required if the project proceeds.