Snowflake council tables South Seventh Ranch tentative map, asks developer for fuller plan

The Snowflake Town Council voted 4-3 on Nov. 5 to table consideration of the South Seventh Ranch tentative map and directed the applicant to return with a more complete submittal for Planning & Zoning review.

Kevin Wright, the applicant, presented the conceptual plat and said the project would consist of 38 one-acre lots and that he was seeking variances including removal of curb and gutter in phase one and a modified street width. He told the council the proposal was a tentative approval request and not fully engineered: "This is a tentative approval, for the concept, it is not completely engineered." Wright said he would spend money on engineering once the tentative plat is approved and expected to have engineering plans ready within about six months.

Brian Richards, a staff member who met with Wright earlier in the day, urged the applicant to work through Planning & Zoning first and to discuss the variances with staff so designs will meet council expectations. "He’s not that far away from having a proper submittal," Richards said.

Council members raised several concerns about the plan. Councilmember Cory Johnson said he prefers curb and gutter because it keeps streets in better condition and noted a fire-safety threshold: "Fire code says that 30ft at the peak requires aerial access," a point Chief Nelson supported by urging the town to be forward-looking in applying fire-code expertise to new development. Councilmembers split on balancing development cost and community standards; Greg Brimhall said he was comfortable with acre lots lacking curbs because development is expensive, while JoAnne Guderian said one-acre lots would be desirable "as long as the street width follows fire code" and praised the applicant’s willingness to invest.

Byron Lewis moved and Cory Johnson seconded a motion to table the item and work with Wright to prepare a more complete P&Z submittal. The motion passed 4-3. Votes in favor: Kerry Ballard, Lora Jones, Byron Lewis and Cory Johnson. Opposed: JoAnne Guderian, Joe Bjornn and Greg Brimhall.

What happens next: Council directed staff and the applicant to collaborate on a fuller submittal addressing variances, grading/drainage, street width and fire-department access before scheduling the item for Planning & Zoning and a subsequent council hearing.