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Planning commission recommends changing zoning for Parry parcel after split vote; access concerns remain
Summary
Ephraim Planning Commission recommended City Council approval to amend the general plan and rezone parcel S-625x3 from R3 to C2 for a potential RV-park use, passing both recommendations on 2–2 split roll-call votes that members described as a narrow, conditional endorsement while access and traffic questions remain.
The Ephraim City Planning Commission on March 11 recommended that the City Council amend the general plan for parcel S-625x3 from medium-density residential (R3) to commercial (C2) and separately recommended rezoning the parcel from R3 to C2, actions proponents said are needed before the owner pursues a commercial use such as an RV park.
The Commission’s recommendations passed on split roll-call votes. Commissioner Larry Smith and Commissioner Carol Jacobsen voted in favor; Chair Lisa Murray and Commissioner Desiree Funk voted against both recommendations. "I agree it's a good idea," Smith said, explaining he believed the amendment and rezone could benefit the community while remaining resolvable through later permitting steps. Murray said she opposed changing the future land use designation where it calls to remain medium density and worried about commercial encroachment on adjacent residences.
Planner Megan Spurling told the commission the city’s Future Land Use Map shows the parcel as medium-density residential. Applicant Cody Parry said he plans a public RV park and described ongoing negotiations for access easements. "We have an agreement in the works" for access through adjacent property owners, Parry said, and mentioned an existing driveway near his house that could serve as an alternative entry.
Planner Spurling and several commissioners emphasized that approval of the general plan amendment and rezoning would not itself authorize an RV park. If the council approves the changes, Parry would still need to obtain required permits, including a conditional use permit that would require recorded access easements and detailed site and safety reviews. Spurling said the commission’s role is to make a recommendation to the City Council; the council makes the final decision.
Neighbors Jason and Eileen James said they had questions but do not oppose the rezoning. Commissioners who voted no said they were concerned primarily about the change in the future land use designation and unresolved operational issues such as large-vehicle ingress and egress from Highway 89 and the potential need to route traffic through a commercial parking area.
The commission recorded public explanation for its split vote: supporters said the portion of the lot that already is C2 and community requests for overnight accommodations justify flexibility; opponents called for more certainty on access and preservation of adjacent residential character. The commission recommended the amendments to the council with those caveats and left development-specific approvals to later application steps.
The City Council will receive the recommendation next; any future application for an RV park would require a recorded access easement, engineering review and a conditional use permit before construction could begin.
