Planning Commission gives preliminary, phased approval to Book Cliffs Subdivision with demolition and technical conditions

The Green River Planning Commission on Sept. 16 granted preliminary, phased approval to the Book Cliffs Subdivision, but attached a set of conditions that must be satisfied before the subdivision can reach final approval or be recorded.

The motion approved by the commission requires the developer to provide missing engineering materials and agency clearances — including full storm drainage calculations and a sized retention basin, revised utility and curb details, fire hydrant locations and fire-flow data, health department/DEQ approvals for culinary water connections, FEMA floodplain/elevation documentation for homes, an updated grading plan with profile sheets, and verification of clear title and county tax status. The approval is explicitly conditional on demolition of identified nuisance buildings (including pool-room structures) and documentation that demolition and asbestos abatement are complete.

David (city staff) told the commission that the plans, as submitted, showed utilities under sidewalks and lacked drainage calculations; the city engineer recommended routing utilities outside sidewalks and providing complete drainage and grading plans. Paul Sims, the project engineer, said he would provide grading plans, profile sheets and updated prints showing water and sewer laterals for city review.

Commissioners and staff debated street-edge treatments and safety features along the adjacent state highway. UDOT access requirements will limit the middle entrance to a right-in/right-out with a pork‑chop island; the commission also required a vehicle-resistant barrier (a minimum 4-foot block wall or similar) to protect homes from highway traffic, subject to UDOT coordination and city standards. Staff and one commissioner noted the site's high water table and FEMA floodplain designation, and said homes will need elevated foundations (crawl spaces or raised floors rather than slab-on-grade) and elevation certificates when built.

Several commission members pressed the developer to show progress on asbestos removal and demolition before final acceptance; the developer's representative said an environmental contractor expected to finish asbestos abatement in about two weeks and that demolition permits would follow. The commission permitted preliminary approval with those and other conditions, while reiterating that the city cannot finalize or record the subdivision until the listed technical items and required agency sign-offs (engineer, mayor, health department/DEQ, county recorder, culinary water sign-off, and fire authority) are completed.

The motion was made and seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission instructed staff to provide a written list of the conditions to the applicant and to verify all items before the final approval step.