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Planning commission recommends code changes to align with Utah law, tightens private-street sidewalk requirement
Summary
Staff told commissioners the amendment aligns the city code with recent Utah Legislature recodification, clarifies that the commission approves preliminary plats, standardizes citation style, and updates private-street standards to require sidewalks on both sides. The commission recommended approval to council.
The Midvale Planning Commission recommended approval of a city-initiated code text amendment designed to align city ordinances with recent changes in Utah state law and to clarify local subdivision and private-street standards.
Staff explained that the Utah Legislature recodified parts of the planning enabling laws and that the city ordinance needed updated citations. One substantive change clarified how civil engineering review for subdivisions is handled: the city may require engineering review at either preliminary plat or final plat, but not both. The staff presentation also clarified that, under the revised language, the planning commission approves preliminary subdivision plats (a change from prior language that said the commission recommended approval to the City Council). Staff noted a readability change standardizing numeric style (digits instead of spelled-out numbers) across the code.
Staff also described a policy clarification for private streets. Prior city language allowed two options within the same right-of-way: either sidewalks on both sides or a configuration with a 4-foot sidewalk and a 5-foot park strip on one side. Staff said the change removes the asymmetric option and requires sidewalks on both sides for private streets, citing pedestrian safety and accessibility concerns.
Vandal, speaking for staff, summarized the package and recommended approval. The commission opened the public hearing; no members of the public spoke. The commission moved to recommend approval of the amendment as drafted, and a roll-call vote recorded affirmative votes from the present commissioners. The motion passed and the planning commission forwarded its recommendation to the City Council.
The recommendation is for council consideration; final ordinance language and updated code citations will be included in the council packet if the council moves forward with the amendments.
