Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agriculture Protection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission recommends 175-acre Relief Mine agricultural protection area to county commissioners
Summary
The commission voted May 20 to recommend that the county commission approve a 175-acre agricultural protection area requested by the Relief Mine Company, finding the land is in agricultural use, zoned for agriculture and viable for continued grazing and crop production; the advisory board had earlier voted 5–0 to recommend approval.
The Utah County Planning Commission on May 20 recommended that the County Commission approve a proposed 175-acre agricultural protection area for the Relief Mine Company.
Staff explained the agricultural protection area (APA) is a state-code mechanism that protects specified agricultural uses — here crop production and grazing — from nuisance complaints and certain zoning changes. The county’s role at this stage is advisory: the planning commission makes a recommendation to the County Commission, which has final authority.
Staff said the property is currently used for alfalfa and grazing, is zoned in agricultural categories (RA-5 and CE-1 for portions of the site) and that about 10% of the site qualifies as prime farmland under USDA mapping; staff reported no objections to the proposal to date and noted that the agricultural advisory board had recommended approval 5–0.
Kurt Beecher, an adjacent-property representative for the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, told the commission the district owns adjacent acreage and supports the APA. Beecher said the district is planning a water-treatment facility on nearby property and confirmed agricultural uses on the subject parcels, including grazing leases. “We have no issue with this,” Beecher said.
Commissioners discussed potential conflicts between agricultural protection and utility corridors or planned infrastructure; staff said state code requires specific language on plats for parcels within a set distance of an APA and that notice requirements and public hearings will follow at the county-commission level. A motion recommending approval to the County Commission was moved and seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote.
What’s next: The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Utah County Commission, which will hold a public hearing and make the final decision.
