Homeowners ask to rezone land behind 1149 South Mountain Road for wildfire mitigation; neighbors raise slope and wetlands concerns

At its March meeting, the Fruit Heights Planning Commission heard a request from homeowner Scott Baird to rezone two parcels behind 1149 South Mountain Road to an agricultural designation to allow managed grazing as a low-cost wildfire mitigation tool.

Baird told the commission, “So we're the homeowners at 1149 Scott Cotton Road,” and described the site as roughly 2.48 acres of open, steep ground dominated in places by tall phragmites that he said create a high fire risk. He said he and the Hidden Springs homeowners association had discussed either an easement or acquisition so neighbors could use sheep and goats to keep vegetation low and reduce fire hazard.

Several residents pushed back during the public comment period. “My main concern is that slope,” said adjacent homeowner Joe Iverson, adding that the hillside is shown on the city’s sensitive-lands map as moderate-to-high landslide risk. Iverson warned that “goats…will eat the roots” and could destabilize the slope, compact soil and increase runoff, raising the risk to houses above the hillside.

Staff and commissioners noted additional legal and planning constraints. A planner explained that rezoning would not change ownership and that language tied some of the upper parcel to the HOA because of a stormwater detention facility; that upper parcel may not be sold off easily. Commissioners also raised questions about whether any portion of the site had been used to secure bonus density under the original PUD — a designation that could limit what the HOA may do with the land.

Commissioners discussed alternatives, including requiring the HOA to improve maintenance under existing city ordinances, asking the HOA to send an official representative to a follow-up meeting, and ordering a geotechnical study to clarify slope stability before any zoning change. One staff response pointed to options for working with federal and state agencies on wetlands restoration where appropriate, but noted that portions of the site may be subject to Army Corps restrictions.

After public comment and staff discussion, Commissioner Justin Wright moved to table the rezoning request for further development of information; the motion was seconded and approved. Commissioners asked that the HOA provide an on-record representative at the next hearing and that staff report back on ownership language, any bonus-density entitlements and the feasibility of a geotechnical analysis.

The commission did not vote on the rezoning tonight; the matter will return for further review once the requested details are provided.