Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Subdivision Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission continues Backcountry Estates subdivision amid contested water and access issues
Summary
The commission continued consideration of the Backcountry Estates six-lot subdivision in Hobble Creek Canyon after extended public testimony and staff concerns about water-rights adjudication, legal access via private plats/CC&Rs, and engineering documentation; the item was continued for two weeks.
The Utah County Commission continued its decision on the Backcountry Estates mountain-home subdivision application after extensive public comment and staff concerns about water and access.
Community Development staff summarized the application for six lots and highlighted three outstanding areas: possible adjudication of water rights in district court, verification that access through existing platted developments is authorized and adequate, and several technical exceptions the applicant requested for road grades and irrigation requirements. Staff noted the planning commission had a split recommendation and that the county attorney had submitted a letter outlining legal concerns.
Public commenters — including adjacent property owners, water-rights stakeholders and HOA representatives — disputed whether recorded plats, CC&Rs or quitclaim deeds created public easements that would permit the new development to rely on access through the Cottages at Hobble Creek. Neighbors also questioned the deliverability of the applicant’s proposed water supply and criticized the applicant’s engineering statement as unsigned by a licensed engineer. The county attorney noted a memo from the assistant state engineer received that morning raised additional questions about water availability and priority.
After hearing more than a dozen public speakers and reviewing new materials, a commissioner moved to continue the item to allow staff to compile the recently submitted documents, obtain clarification from the state engineer if available, and give both sides time to meet with staff. The motion to continue for two weeks passed unanimously.
