Washington Terrace planning commission tables decision on proposed four-unit townhome infill

The Washington Terrace Planning Commission on Monday night tabled action on an application to allow four attached townhomes at 445 West 5100 South, citing incomplete plans and outstanding conditions of approval.

Chair Steve Jacobson opened a public hearing after staff presented the project and explained that the property lies on the city's infill overlay map. Tyler, a city building official and planner, told the commission the overlay designation allows the applicant to seek an infill development and that the proposed layout "falls into line with what the city code allows." Tyler said the developer's plan proposes four attached units plus the existing house (counted as five units for density purposes), and flagged required elements that remain unresolved: a recorded plat and development agreement, HOA/CC&R documents, a landscape plan, an engineered grading plan and permits for any retaining wall over four feet.

Neighbors who spoke during the public comment period said the packet lacked detail on critical issues and expressed concerns about parking, slope and access. "I 100% oppose, disagree with this development," resident Ryan Schover said, arguing the narrow neighborhood streets and existing parked equipment already crowd the area and that construction could worsen parking spillover onto nearby streets. Longtime residents Tina and Darren Thompson said they fear the proposal would be only the first phase of larger redevelopment and asked what would prevent future infill on the adjacent lot; Tina Thompson said the neighborhood has always been single-family homes and she does not want that character to change.

The applicant, developer Matthew McConkie, told the commission he and partners plan to sell the townhome units and described a proposed deed of a 25-foot strip to an adjacent parcel at 405 West to preserve legal access for the existing home there. McConkie said the easement is intended to preserve future options but acknowledged any future development of that parcel would have to go through the same public-review process.

Commission questions and staff responses focused on technical compliance: Tyler confirmed the plan provides two-car garages and driveway spaces that meet the city's parking calculation (2.5 spaces per unit), noted a fire hydrant shown on the plan near the corner of the property, and said the fire marshal was part of the development-review process. He also explained that retaining walls taller than four feet must be engineered and permitted and that construction activity is subject to the city's noise and staging rules (work may start at 7 a.m., and equipment/staging cannot be left on the road).

Several commissioners said the application materials were incomplete. The chair and others specifically cited missing CC&Rs/HOA documents, landscaping details, a final grading and retaining-wall design, and clarity about how the 25-foot access easement would be recorded and implemented. With those gaps in mind, the commission did not move to approve the project; instead members voted to table the item until the applicant supplies the outstanding information and conditions for staff review. The commission chair said the meeting minutes will be sent to the City Council, where the item is already scheduled on an upcoming council agenda.

The action to table the application was approved by the commission; commissioners also nominated and approved Steve Jacobson as chair and Amy Morgan as vice chair for another year. The commission then moved on to other business and adjourned.