Planning commission approves Oscar's Café parking expansion at 924 Zion Park Blvd with conditions

The Springdale Planning Commission on Dec. 4 approved a design‑development review (DDR) allowing Oscar's Café to expand an informal gravel parking area onto an adjacent parcel at 924 Zion Park Boulevard, subject to five conditions intended to protect setbacks, landscape areas and visual character.

Tom Dancy, town planner, told the commission the project depends on a common parking agreement between the two property owners because the proposed lot crosses a property line. "Without that common parking agreement, this proposal would not work," Dancy said. Staff also recommended adding at least one pedestrian amenity (for example, a bench or bicycle parking) because the Central Commercial zone requires it, and suggested a more permanent edge treatment so gravel parking stalls do not migrate into landscape areas and setbacks.

Adjacent owner Joe Inman spoke in favor of the project but urged the applicant to remove an existing pile of boulders in the northeast corner, asked that tall trees not be planted along the shared wall (to avoid debris falling into his swimming pool) and asked for a clear plan for dumpsters, which he said raise concerns about vermin if not sited and screened properly.

Adam, representing Oscar's, said the proposal would improve traffic flow and provide roughly six to seven additional parking spaces depending on final layout. He said dumpsters would be screened and that the applicant was willing to work with staff on final placement. "We'd love to get bike racks and a bench in there," Adam said, endorsing staff's pedestrian‑amenity recommendation.

Commissioner Jennifer McCullough moved to approve the DDR with conditions that: (1) specify concrete color (David color number 5084 Harvest Gold unless an alternative is approved by the town); (2) require the owners of Parcel S‑58‑B and 924 Zion Park Boulevard to enter a common parking agreement before work begins; (3) require the applicant to present a plan to the Department of Community Development (DCD) showing additional measures (for example, large decorative boulders or low posts/rope) to ensure parking stalls remain within setbacks; (4) provide at least one pedestrian amenity such as a bench or bicycle parking; and (5) resolve dumpster location with town staff prior to construction. The motion passed unanimously: McCullough, Terry Kruschke, Tom Kinston, Paul Zimmerman and Melissa Laborde voted aye.

Staff and the applicant will finalize details with DCD before construction may begin. The commission also approved the consent agenda and adjourned the meeting.