Planning commission approves Run Amok and RTS trailhead permits, limits paving

The Snyderville Basin Planning Commission on May 14 approved amendments to the RTS trailhead permit and a bundled conditional-use permit for Run Amok 1 and 2, allowing new parking and restroom facilities while adding conditions aimed at limiting new impervious surface.

Senior planner Amir Kass told commissioners the Run Amok trail system dates to 2014 and that staff recommended approval of the RTS amendment and the Run Amok 1 and 2 CUPs as described in the staff report. "Other than that staff is recommending, an approval of the RTs Trailhead Conditional use permit amendment and also the run amok 1 and 2 conditional use permit as outlined in the staff report," Kass said during the presentation.

Project proponents described a proposed 30-stall trailhead to improve legal parking capacity and said restroom facilities would be pit toilets on septic where water and sewer infrastructure were not available. The owner representative thanked Summit County engineering for performing engineering work pro bono, saying, "They actually took on the engineering for this project, which in turn saved the taxpayers $19,000." Staff noted health-department permits and other approvals will be required before restrooms are installed.

Commissioners focused on whether new parking should be asphalt for winter plowing or a permeable surface for water-quality and neighborhood character reasons. "I would prefer that the new 30 stall lot also be a permeable surface, for sustainability reasons, recycled roto mill," Commissioner Cook said, urging the commission to avoid increasing impervious surfaces where feasible. Staff and the applicant explained the new lot had been proposed as asphalt largely for winter maintenance (plowing) but confirmed the two existing trailheads would remain permeable.

Commissioner Cook moved to amend the RTS CUP to preserve the existing RTS parking as a grama/permeable surface and not permit repaving with asphalt; that motion was seconded and carried in a recorded vote. A separate motion to approve the Run Amok 1 and 2 CUPs with the additional condition that the Run Amok 2 parking be surfaced with a permeable surface also passed unanimously.

The commission recorded both actions as approvals with conditions. Staff said it will continue coordination with public works and county engineering on parking, signage, and measures to reduce roadside parking in the corridor; the applicants will proceed to obtain required county and health-department permits before construction starts.

Next steps: the applicants must secure any outstanding permits (including health-department approvals for the restroom systems) and comply with conditions in the planning commission’s findings before implementing the approved parking and restroom work.