Council adopts ordinance 08-2024 to remove interior ceiling-height minimums for townhomes in Main Street South Gateway zone

The Springville City Council approved ordinance 08-2024 to amend the Main Street South Gateway zoning regulations, removing a required minimum clear floor‑to‑ceiling height for townhomes while maintaining a policy that first‑floor finished elevation be 18 inches above the sidewalk in the affected zone.

Planning staff member Josh told the council the change responds to design and construction problems that have complicated townhome projects in the zone and that it will remove an interior height requirement that made framing and structural design more difficult without changing overall building height limits. Josh said the planning commission recommended the amendment by a 5–0 vote (two commissioners excused).

Council members asked whether the change applied only to the Main Street South Gateway zone or citywide and whether it would conflict with the larger zoning overhaul. Josh said the amendment applies only to that zone now and that a more uniform approach would be considered during the code overhaul. Josh acknowledged visitability and accessibility tradeoffs and noted that building codes will continue to set minimum habitable ceiling heights.

A councilmember moved to adopt ordinance 08-2024 (Springville Code 11-4-7084 amendment) and a roll-call vote recorded 'Yes' votes from Logan, Jake, Mike and Mindy in the printed record; the ordinance was adopted as recorded. The transcript shows these councilmembers voting in favor; votes from other members were not recorded in the transcript excerpt.