The Parowan Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 17 tabled a proposed change to the city’s typical roadway cross sections and engineering standards, asking staff to secure technical input from the fire chief and public works before making a recommendation to the city council.

Staff presented three principal options: keep the 60‑foot local right‑of‑way standard, adopt a 50‑foot typical section (36 feet of asphalt with narrower parking lanes), or allow a no‑curb, natural drainage local section consistent with state width minimums. Commissioners discussed tradeoffs including maintenance costs, snow‑plow operations, whether narrower sections risk cramped streets, the state rules that constrain minimum pavement widths, and ADA sidewalk requirements.

A public commenter relayed concerns from the fire chief and public works about roadway width and fire access. Commissioners repeatedly requested a technical fire‑access assessment and a public‑works review of snow‑removal operations; staff agreed to obtain those reports. Following the discussion, the commission moved and approved a motion to postpone the item pending receipt of that technical information.

Why it matters: changes to standard roadway sections affect construction costs for developers, long‑term maintenance and emergency access for residents. The commission’s request for technical analysis underscores unresolved safety and operational questions that must be addressed before code changes are finalized.

Next step: staff will request a formal report from the fire chief and from public works (snow‑removal implications) and return the item for future consideration.