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Commission discusses accessory-apartment rules, fire hydrant and UDOT access with prospective Owens homeowners
Summary
Prospective homeowners (Owens family) described their ranch-style plan; the commission reviewed Cornish's accessory-apartment language, hydrant coverage and UDOT access constraints and suggested options including a breezeway or a shared driveway and a special P&Z meeting to move the project forward.
Prospective homeowners identified as the Owens family presented a site plan for a ranch-style house with a basement and shared septic system, and the Cornish Planning & Zoning Commission spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing whether the applicants’ proposed detached garage with living space would comply with the town’s accessory-apartment provisions.
Planning staff read aloud the town’s land-use ordinance language and highlighted key conditions: only one accessory apartment is allowed in an owner-occupied single-family dwelling; the accessory unit must be able to be isolated within, attached to, or adjacent to the primary dwelling and any new entrances should be on the side or rear of the structure. Commissioners and the applicants debated whether "attached" or "adjacent" applied to the submitted plan and discussed workarounds such as a covered breezeway to create a single-structure appearance.
Staff also told the applicants that fire protection comes from the neighboring city and that the department requires structures be within approximately 500 feet of a hydrant. The applicants were close to an existing hydrant near the driveway and staff suggested either moving the house, inching the building north to meet separation requirements, or installing a hydrant near the house if necessary.
On vehicle access, staff cautioned that UDOT has been tightening approvals for new accesses on the highway; the parcel’s prior subdivision succeeded only after a driveway-sharing arrangement and staff said the feasible option is likely to share an approved driveway rather than obtain a new separate curb cut. Applicants and staff discussed adding tailings/gravel per UDOT approach requirements and working with adjacent property owners on a shared access.
Staff offered to prepare options on breezeway and accessory-apartment language and proposed a special Planning & Zoning meeting timed with the town council so the applicants could move through county and council review without a four-week delay; the applicants said that plan would work for them.
The commission indicated it would return with guidance on the ordinance interpretation and next steps; no final permit decisions were made at the meeting.
