Planning commission recommends removing restriction on Brighton parcel to allow subdivision

The Brighton Planning Commission on July 17 voted to recommend that the Town Council approve a rezoning adjustment for 11185 East Mountain Sun Lane that would remove a previous condition limiting the parcel to a single dwelling and allow subdivision into two lots meeting the town's FR‑1 (one‑acre minimum) standard.

Planner Jim McNamara told commissioners the parcel is currently designated “FR1 ZC,” a zoning category that includes a condition limiting density to roughly one dwelling per 2.25 acres, and that the applicant requests plain FR‑1 zoning "for the purpose of subdividing the property into 2 blocks." McNamara said the proposed change would be consistent with the Silver Fork area guidance in the town's general plan and described surrounding parcels as primarily FR‑0.5 and FR‑1.

Applicants Barbara Cameron and her husband described the property's history and said they purchased the 2.25‑acre lot in 1995. Barbara Cameron told the commission, "We live at 11185 Mountain Sun Lane" and that the pair bought an additional water share in 2023 to make subdivision feasible. She summarized earlier permitting difficulties tied to a prior zoning determination and asked the commission to "remove the zoning condition" so the parcel could be subdivided like neighboring properties. Her testimony included transaction details: the lot purchase in 1995 for $200,000 and a water‑share purchase for $20,000.

Commissioner George moved to open the public hearing and later moved to recommend approval of the rezone "as written;" the chair seconded. No members of the public submitted comments in the chat or spoke during the hearing. Commissioner Donna, joining remotely, stated she "definitely approve[d] allowing this parcel to be divided into 2 pieces" and said it "only makes sense that it should be the same as the surrounding parcels." Following discussion, the commission agreed to forward a recommendation of approval to the Town Council.

Staff noted they could not locate county minutes explaining why an earlier decision had imposed the zoning condition; McNamara said planning commission and county council minutes available to staff did not give a specific rationale for the prior restriction. That gap in the record was raised by a commissioner questioning why surrounding parcels were FR‑0.5 while this parcel carried a restriction.

The commission also approved its March meeting minutes and adjourned. The recommendation now goes to the Brighton Town Council for a final decision; the commission did not set an effective date for any change because that will be determined by the council if it agrees to the recommendation.