Commission denies Payson Canyon rezone request, cites water and watershed concerns

The Utah County Commission voted 3–0 on March 13 to deny a rezoning request for about 88 acres in the mouth of Payson Canyon after staff and commissioners identified water‑supply and watershed‑study gaps.

Community Development staff recommended denial, noting the property lies in an urban‑wildland interface and natural‑hazards overlay and that RA5 zoning typically requires historic irrigation or establishment of crops or orchards. Staff further noted no watershed‑feasibility study was submitted to show proposed septic systems or increased dwelling sites would not harm the watershed. Commissioners and staff said a standard RA5 pathway would require irrigation water—roughly nine acre‑feet per lot for a typical RA5 subdivision—and Payson City has not placed reservoir plans in an annexation declaration.

Property owners who spoke at the hearing said they have long owned and worked the land, described past dumping and safety concerns, and said building a small number of homes would improve site security and fire access. Owners and local residents also noted they had paid for percolation tests and slope studies, argued RA5 better matched existing uses on adjacent parcels and asked the county to consider CE2 or other lower‑density changes if a water feasibility study were provided.

Commissioners suggested alternative pathways—such as resubmitting under CE2, conducting the required water feasibility and watershed impact studies, or pursuing an annexation/water arrangement with Payson City—before approving denser development. After discussion, a commissioner moved to deny the rezoning, the motion was seconded, and the commission voted 3–0 to deny the ordinance changes requested in regular agenda item 14.