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Planning commission backs South Hills MDA with noise‑mitigation, signage and plat notification requirements after Camp Williams complaint
Summary
After Camp Williams raised concerns that artillery noise can reach 130 dB under some weather conditions, the Herriman Planning Commission recommended approval of the South Hills amended MDA to council and added three requirements: shared roadway/trail master-plan references, a Camp Williams–informed sound overlay with signage and plat notifications for affected areas, and development of an STC-based building standard for the highest-noise zones.
The Herriman Planning Commission on Oct. 2 recommended the South Hills amended and restated master development agreement to the city council and added conditions aimed at mitigating military-noise impacts after comment from Camp Williams.
Ryan Becker, ACUP program manager for Camp Williams, told commissioners that artillery live-fire — especially from the 500-series firing point — can produce very high peak noise and vibration levels and that under unfavorable weather those sound-waves and vibrations can carry farther. "That 130 decibel level actually carries 0.6 miles beyond the Camp Williams border," Becker said, urging the commission to avoid rezoning certain agricultural parcels to higher-density residential where peak levels would be reached.
Developers and staff responded that they do not seek to deny Camp Williams’ training mission and that deed or plat notifications and construction mitigation could help manage future complaints. Leif, a nearby developer, said his team is "open to any recommendations" and willing to add deed or title notifications and to work with the city on mitigation.
Commissioners discussed the difference between modeled noise contours (staff said the study was modeling-based) and on-site measurement, how often high‑peak events occur (Becker said historical averages for that firing point were roughly 65–75 large-caliber rounds per year), and possible mitigation strategies including advance notification, signage, plat language and building hardening. Staff noted some tools (signage and plat notes) belong in the MDA or subdivision recordation rather than zoning conditions.
The commission voted unanimously to forward item 5.7 (the South Hills MDA) to the city council with staff recommendations plus three added requirements: (1) reference a regional roadway master plan across adjoining MDAs; (2) reference a regional trail master plan; and (3) develop a Camp Williams‑informed sound-overlay exhibit that (a) requires on‑plat/recordation notification and signage for the yellow zone and (b) for purple (≥130 dB) zones requires plat/notification, signage and an agreed-upon STC building standard or other mitigation (to be developed jointly by developer, staff and Camp Williams and reviewed by staff). The motion indicated staff should coordinate the technical standards and review path.
