Farmington council denies rezoning of foothill parcel after neighbors cite flooding, slope and seismic risks

Farmington City Council on Feb. 17 voted to deny an ordinance that would have rezoned part of a foothill parcel from agricultural to Large Residential, after residents documented recurring flooding, questioned hillside safety and urged further study.

Neighbors who live below the proposed site told the council that existing drainage cannot handle current storms and that development would increase runoff into their yards. “I have contacted the city, I worked with the state and nobody's been able to resolve it,” Paul Bradhauer said during public comment, adding that repeated floods have damaged his property. Joseph Jardine, who said he’s attended every planning‑commission meeting on the proposal, urged the council to “choose option 3. Don't rezone it,” citing the parcel’s recreational use and long community ties.

Staff described the item as a legislative rezone request and said the packet reflects a staff‑narrowed ordinance that would affect a little over 20 acres of a larger ownership. Lyle, a city planner, told the council LR (Large Residential) zoning typically yields 20,000‑square‑foot lots (roughly half‑acre) and explained that the developer had asked for an exception to the city’s 1,000‑foot dead‑end‑street limit. The rezone was previously considered by the planning commission, which voted 5–1 to recommend approval with reservations.

Council members weighed property‑rights arguments against site‑specific safety and infrastructure concerns. “I am not persuaded that this is a safe area to build houses,” Councilmember Scott said after walking the site and reviewing materials, citing slope, seismic faults and drainage uncertainty. Other councilmembers emphasized that schematic‑level rezonings do not require full engineering up front, while noting that future civil and geotechnical approvals would be required if the zoning changed.

Councilmember Amy moved to deny the enabling ordinance and development agreement; Scott seconded. The motion carried and the council closed the public hearing. Mayor and staff thanked residents for submitting photos and videos that staff had reviewed.

Next steps: the council moved on to other agenda items; staff noted that any future proposal would return to the review process with required engineering and DRC checks before preliminary plat approval.