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Emigration Canyon council adopts zoning code changes, updated fee schedule
Summary
The council approved a package of zoning and administrative ordinances, removing a long‑standing agricultural permit exemption, tightening rules for nonconforming structures, rezoning an RM parcel near Camp K and adopting an updated fee schedule; all motions carried with aye votes.
Emigration Canyon’s council on Tuesday moved forward with a set of ordinances aimed at tightening local land‑use rules and clarifying fees.
Council members voted to adopt an updated fee schedule to comply with a recent state requirement that land‑use fees be passed by ordinance. Cameron, staff, said the changes mainly add narrative clarifications to building and plan review fees and adjust percentage ranges for plan review costs. The motion to adopt ordinance 2025‑0‑10 was moved, seconded and carried with aye votes.
In related action, the council approved an ordinance that eliminates an agricultural exemption in chapter 19.02 that previously allowed some agricultural uses to proceed without a land‑use permit. Brian Tucker, planning manager for the MSD, said the change does not remove agriculture from the use table but requires a permit for large‑scale agricultural uses that previously could proceed without formal review.
The council also replaced the town’s nonconforming‑use rules (chapter 19.88) to close permissive loopholes that permitted rebuilding larger structures without modern setbacks. Tucker said the new chapter preserves limited rebuilding on the same footprint and retains a one‑year abandonment rule; the council voted to adopt the replacement ordinance.
As part of the broader cleanup, the council rezoned a 0.88‑acre Salt Lake City parcel used for parking near Camp K from RM (residential multifamily) to FR‑20, eliminating the only RM parcel in the canyon. Council members said the change will make the zoning map more consistent with on‑the‑ground uses.
Supporters said the package aligns the canyon’s rules with current conditions and gives staff clearer permitting authority. Several residents and council members raised questions about how the changes would affect existing properties; staff said grandfathered uses remain protected under the new language but future large‑scale agricultural or nonconforming developments would undergo review.
The ordinances were recommended by the planning commission and approved by the council in affirmative votes during the meeting.
