Commission approves Equestrian Trails Ranch development agreement with nonstandard roadway and animal-rights provision

Iron County commissioners approved a development agreement with Equestrian Trails Ranch LLC that covers roughly 264 acres near 4000 North and 3700–4400 West in Cedar City, allowing a maximum density of two dwelling units per acre and a nonstandard neighborhood road cross-section.

Planning staff said the package includes a widened 100-foot right-of-way that splits typical asphalt into two travel lanes separated by a landscaped median, with borrow ditches and 12.5-foot trails on the sides. The applicant agreed the homeowners association would maintain medians, borrow ditches and trails while the county would maintain the asphalt surface. The Planning Commission recommended approval and asked staff to add a provision locking in current animal-rights for the RHAF-zoned parcels; commissioners added that provision during the motion.

Sheriff Kent Carpenter and other participants asked whether emergency vehicles could safely navigate intersections and whether roundabouts or other features would impede fire or ambulance access. Applicant engineers said the design preserves required asphalt width and includes turnout areas and median nose radii at intersections so emergency apparatus can turn. Staff said no on-street parking would be allowed on the widened right-of-way.

The development agreement passed on a motion, with commissioners noting infrastructure (existing sewer and water lines) is available and that secondary access improvements to 3700 West would be phased as the project develops.