Carefree commission approves single‑family home with conditions after drainage review

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve a single‑family home application with conditions after hearing from the project architect and staff about drainage and site constraints.

Project architect Tyler Green described the site as a difficult build—“we’re building on a large slab of granite” with flat rock outcroppings—and said the house was designed to sit low on the site and remain within maximum lot coverage and height limits. He said utilities will require trenching but not blasting.

Staff presented an outside engineer’s drainage report that found roughly one‑third loss of culvert cross‑section where a corrugated metal pipe beneath Ironwood had collapsed and become ellipsoid, reducing conveyance. The engineer estimated that reduction could create a backwater condition that might threaten structural flooding in certain events; staff noted the culvert still allows flow but at “a reduced amount.” A local speaker said he had cleaned that culvert several times and had not observed inhibited flow; staff acknowledged maintenance can affect hydraulic performance.

After discussion and clarifying questions from commissioners, a motion to approve the application with conditions passed on a voice vote. The decision recorded was approval with conditions; the commission said standard conditions and engineering sign‑offs would be required prior to final permits.

Actions and next steps: the applicant will be required to meet conditions noted in staff’s recommendation, and the town engineer’s satisfaction on substantial grading and drainage issues was listed in the proposed ordinance language as a requirement for at‑risk grading submittals. Staff will document required conditions in permit files prior to issuance.

No blasting was authorized; the architect reiterated utilities will be trench‑installed. The commission’s approval was called and passed in the meeting record.