Rush Valley resident asks about building a new home and ADU; staff to provide permit checklist

At the April 1 meeting of the Rush Valley Planning & Zoning Commission, resident Scott Stevens said he intends to build a new home and asked what steps are required to start a building‑permit application and whether an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) would be allowed on a nonconforming lot.

Stevens, who identified himself as living at 140 North Main, said he planned to build south of an existing structure and would remove the current house after the new home is complete. Commissioners told Stevens that external ADUs are not permitted on nonconforming lots and that an ADU would need to be internal (for example, in a basement) to comply with the town’s standards.

Staff explained the permitting paperwork Stevens must provide: proof of water rights and the well permit through the Division of Water Rights, and approval for the septic system design from the Tooele County Health Department. Commissioners said a conditional‑use permit could be filed concurrently with the building permit to authorize temporary occupancy while construction is underway and to set a demolition timeline for the old unit.

Planning staff (Patty Rowe) agreed to provide Stevens with a checklist of required materials and to email the permit packet. Stevens also raised a separate question about storage containers on his lot; staff noted the town has no current container ordinance and discussed future code updates.

The public‑comment segment concluded with staff offering to send Stevens the permit packet to his provided email address.