Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Far West planners map new R18 zone, debate averages, buffers and townhome limits
Summary
The Far West Planning Commission identified southern Far West as the preferred area for a proposed R18 higher‑density residential zone, settled on an average‑lot approach (8,000 sq ft average, 6,000 minimum), and assigned homework to set townhome percentage limits and buffer rules before the next work session.
The Far West Planning Commission spent a work session refining where to allow a new R18 higher‑density zone and how to structure its rules, settling on an approach that combines an average lot size target with minimums and explicit buffer protections.
"I feel like from a step purpose if we start with where are the areas and then what is the vision for those areas," the facilitator said, urging commissioners to mark preferred map locations and discuss setbacks and form.
Commissioners converged on concentrating higher density in the southern portion of Far West — near existing Legends development and the Far West Landing area — while keeping the northern edge largely unchanged. One parcel near the freeway exit (identified during the meeting as a roughly 80‑acre city‑center candidate) drew repeated attention as appropriate for mixed use and community‑scale commercial rather than large box retail.
Traffic and emergency access were recurring concerns. Commissioners noted regional transport plans and a Wasatch Front Regional Council/UDOT window for an I‑15/2700 West interchange upgrade and said developers would likely need to provide traffic studies and mitigation as part of development agreements.
The group debated using an 8,000‑square‑foot average for lots with a 6,000‑square‑foot minimum rather than allowing a generous percentage of very small lots. Proponents said an average requirement encourages variety and prevents a neighborhood of uniformly small lots; opponents urged a clear minimum and frontage requirements to preserve visual buffering for existing R115 lots. Staff provided example frontage dimensions linked to lot sizes and suggested buffers (for example, matching adjacent lot sizes or requiring a row of larger lots along perimeters).
Commissioners also discussed allowing a limited townhome/patio‑home component inside the new zone. Preliminary proposals discussed a townhome cap ranging from roughly 5–15% of an overall development if the developer uses the lot‑size averaging approach, rising to ~20% in scenarios without averaging. The commission assigned homework: members should propose preferred percentage limits or alternative rules and return with recommendations at the next work session.
The commission did not adopt ordinance text; members agreed on the basic policy directions (average + minimum, required buffers, and a limited townhome component) and asked staff to draft zone language and illustrative maps ahead of the next meeting.
