The Santaquin City Council voted Dec. 16 to approve a development agreement with Sunset Ridge that sets the framework for single-family lots, a small townhome area and commercial pads and dedicates 5.58 acres for a debris basin and trailhead.

The agreement, which follows a planning commission recommendation, lays out land trades and a small purchase to assemble the debris-basin parcel, requires per-lot grading and drainage plans and includes a prohibition on marketing materials excavated from the city-owned debris-basin property; staff said those materials must be used on-site for structural fill or road base.

Resident Kim Leffler told the council she supported the retention basin in principle but urged caution on drainage and maintenance, saying her property is vulnerable: “My house is probably 15 feet below where the soil would start for the new subdivision,” she said, and she questioned how the city would maintain a seven-acre basin given past maintenance issues on nearby public lots.

City planning staff summarized the concept plan and said three rezones were recommended by the planning commission to allow commercial corners and a townhome area. Staff noted that parking for townhomes remains subject to later subdivision and site-plan review and that any mass-grading permit would return to planning and council as required.

Council moved to approve the resolution with an effective date of Jan. 31, 2026, amended to make the agreement contingent upon the developer completing the pending property acquisition. The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Next steps include final subdivision reviews, individual lot grading and building permits, and follow-up approvals such as any mass-grading permit and shared-parking agreements if developers seek them.