Sunset planning commissioners advance draft to allow regulated group homes in single‑family zones

Sunset — The Sunset Planning Commission on Jan. 8 discussed a draft amendment to the zoning code that would allow residential group homes in single‑family (R‑1) zones under a conditional‑use framework and asked the city attorney to review the commission’s proposed language before the next meeting.

Commissioner Thomas Hartwick, who presented model language from neighboring cities, said Clearfield’s approach — treating homes that house more than three unrelated persons as a conditional use while allowing smaller households as permitted uses — was a compact starting point for Sunset. He told colleagues the commission could adapt Clearfield’s language and localize standards to ensure new homes “fit the neighborhood.”

The discussion centered on three policy questions: which populations the ordinance should cover, how to limit occupancy, and whether the city should require state licensing and exclude placements that are effectively substance‑use treatment cloaked as housing. Rodney Page, who participated in the discussion and is the subject of a separate appointment recommendation, noted language in an earlier draft stating that “no person being treated for alcoholism, drug abuse, or such shall be placed in residential facilities for elderly persons,” and urged the commission to preserve safeguards for single‑family neighborhoods.

Commissioners reviewed other municipal examples. Woods Cross and Bountiful include numerical limits in certain zones (for example, Woods Cross sets limits of six residents in some single‑family zones and up to 12 in multi‑family areas), while Clearfield uses a conditional‑use approach tied to existing code standards. Commissioners debated a fixed numeric cap versus a room‑based approach (tying allowable occupants to the number of private bedrooms) and discussed requiring each resident to have a private bedroom as a baseline operational standard.

On oversight, commissioners repeatedly returned to state licensing. Multiple members supported a requirement that group homes be licensed or certified by the Department of Human Services or the appropriate state health licensing entity so the city can verify oversight before granting conditional approval. Commissioners also proposed adding a clear definition of “nonresidential treatment facility” to make explicit that outpatient clinics offering therapy should not be treated the same as a residential group home.

No final ordinance language was adopted Wednesday. Instead, the commission asked staff to assemble a consolidated draft (drawing on the Clearfield language, the commission’s earlier suggestions and the group’s recommended edits), send that draft to the city attorney for an initial legal review, and return the attorney’s comments for the commission to consider as required reading before the next meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (Nov. 13, 2025): Motion to approve moved by Commissioner Hartwick, seconded by Mister Wrigley; outcome unanimous in favor.

- Recommendation to appoint Rodney Page to the planning commission (term Jan. 2026–Dec. 2030): Motion moved, seconded and approved unanimously; the commission formalized the recommendation to the city council.

Staff updates and other business

At the end of the meeting, city staff (Miss Markel and others) reported on a presubmission meeting with a developer exploring a mixed‑use concept for the Sunset Square area (commercial/retail with apartment and townhome components, including deed‑restricted for‑sale units tied to potential state funding) and said a WFRC‑funded code review will be presented next month to identify inconsistencies between the city’s regular code and form‑based code. Staff also reported a potential conditional‑use application for a car‑related business in the building that formerly housed Tanner’s.

What’s next

The commission did not vote on ordinance text. Staff will send the consolidated draft to the city attorney for a first review; the attorney’s comments will be provided to commissioners before the next meeting so the commission can consider revisions and next procedural steps.