Cedar Fort planning commission adopts 0.75 acre-feet minimum for residential culinary water connections

The Cedar Fort Planning Commission on March 5 voted unanimously to adopt a minimum culinary water connection requirement of 0.75 acre-feet for residential connections, with the condition that applicants complete site-plan review and document irrigated areas as part of approval.

Chair Kent Withers moved the measure, saying it should be tied to site-plan review so that actual water-use areas can be evaluated and water rights allocated according to state minimums; Bart D Berry seconded the motion. Commissioners discussed comparisons to other municipalities and state standards, and debated how to account for household use versus landscaping. The draft guidance referenced an approximate irrigated-area range of about 5,000–5,379 square feet when sizing allocations and recommended limiting the base allocation to two large animals per residential unit.

The commission noted the town already tracks water usage through meters and discussed enforcement options including tiered pricing or penalties for overuse, monitoring systems, and conservation incentives. Commissioners emphasized that additional water must be provided if a household’s usage exceeds the base threshold and that future ordinance updates and legal review may be required.

During public comment a resident asked for clarification about meter limits, whether additional water rights permit increased usage, and cost implications of bringing additional water; commissioners responded by explaining the difference between minimum allocation and additional rights and confirming metering will be used for tracking. The commission recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the motion.

The new requirement will be implemented through the town’s site-plan review process and may be revisited as needed by the commission or town staff.