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Council approves narrow connectivity exception to enable grocery marketplace site
Summary
The council adopted an amendment adding a narrow exception to vehicular connectivity standards for sites where topography, power easements and safety concerns render a through connection hazardous; the change preserves pedestrian and bike links and requires DRC/planning commission review for each request.
The Lehi City Council on Dec. 10 approved Ordinance 67-2024, a development-code amendment establishing a limited exception to vehicular connectivity standards for constrained sites where continuing a vehicular through-connection would create safety or feasibility problems.
Rick Magnus of AWA Engineering and staff described a proposed 123,000-square-foot marketplace and explained why an existing stub street would otherwise have to bisect the site across power easements and a 5–7-foot grade differential. Magnus said delivery and large-vehicle circulation would pose safety risks if the normal vehicular through-connection were required.
Planning staff noted the amendment is exception-based: any deviation would still require site-specific review, retain required pedestrian and bicycle connections, and include DRC and planning-commission oversight. Staff recommended language that allows an exception when vehicular continuation would create an unsafe grade or otherwise be infeasible while requiring design mitigation such as masonry walls, sidewalks, trail connections and review by the fire chief and engineering staff.
Councilmembers supported the exception as a narrowly tailored solution for specific circumstances and voted to approve the ordinance with the suggested cleanup language.
The ordinance passed on the council floor after a motion and second; councilmembers emphasized that exceptions would be rare and subject to review at the site-plan stage.
