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Spanish Fork council tables Swenson industrial rezoning after power-capacity concerns
Summary
Council continued a proposed zone change for 64 acres (Swenson Properties) after staff said the city cannot yet supply industrial-scale power to the site; the developer agreed to a continuance and council voted to table the item.
A 64-acre proposal to change rural-residential land at Spanish Fork's north edge to Industrial 1 was continued by the City Council on Dec. 9 after staff said the city currently lacks the electrical capacity the site could require.
Dave Anderson, planning staff, told the council the site lies just west of Old Dominion and near Stockman Flats and that both staff and the planning commission view industrial zoning as consistent with the area's trajectory. But Anderson said a recent review revealed the city could not reliably provide the higher power capacity that large industrial buildings and some manufacturing uses would demand. "We could provide power to light a light bulb on the subject property," Anderson said, "but we don't have the ability to provide the amount of power that would be required for the kind of development that's happening around the subject property." He recommended continuing the public hearing until the power-capacity issue is resolved.
Caden Cole, representing the developer, said the company was "okay with recommendation to continue" and that the project originated with a prior annexation by the Swinson family and is in the city's identified path for industrial growth.
During public comment, rancher Eldon Neives urged the council to retain rural residential zoning in the area, describing potential impacts to livestock calving from nearby lights, noise and traffic.
Councilman Carden moved to table the ordinance for the Swenson Properties Zone Map Amendment; Councilwoman Beck seconded. In a roll-call vote the council approved the continuance. The matter will return to the council once staff and the city's power department can confirm capacity or identify infrastructure steps to serve industrial-scale users.
Next steps: staff will continue work with power-department planners and prospective developers to identify timing for necessary substation or feeder upgrades and will return to the planning commission and council when a service plan is available.
