Commission approves adding 3‑acre parcel to PRC5; neighbors raise groundwater fears over proposed pond

The Mapleton City Planning Commission recommended approval of an amendment to the PRC5 zone that would add a recently acquired 3‑acre parcel along Main Street and allow the property owner to create a half‑acre frontage lot and a 2.35‑acre rear lot with a proposed private, non‑motorized pond.

Staff said the parcel is designated low‑density residential on the general plan (one dwelling per acre without TDRs) and that the proposal would result in two dwellings on three acres — a lower density than some general plan scenarios. The staff report explained that PRC zones authorize flexible lot configurations when an open‑space amenity or other design objective accompanies the development; staff recommended approval.

The applicant’s representative, Brandon Dennison, said the pond would be privately supplied by irrigation shares (not city culinary water), could be dedicated as open space if desired, and would be built using the same impervious liner and construction methods used for the nearby ski lake; he described the cul‑de‑sac road work as bonded and to be constructed later when adjacent property develops.

Public comment focused on two issues. Laura Jones asked about fairness and whether half‑acre lots are being granted only to particular property owners; Julie Lloyd, a nearby homeowner, opposed a pond because of historic basement flooding in the area and asked what the pond might do to groundwater levels. Staff and the applicant said the pond would use a sealed liner and that the existing ski lake has not caused groundwater seepage into neighbors’ basements.

The commission approved the amendment and the rezoning recommendation to council for the PRC5 change.