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Council approves Bear Lake Trailhead parking as commercial trailhead use with 72‑hour limit
Summary
Garden City Council approved a business license allowing commercial trailhead parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead, imposing conditions: no camping, enforceable time limit (discussed as 72 hours), and that outdoor storage is not permitted without formal approval.
The Garden City Town Council on May 14 approved a business license authorizing commercial trailhead parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead but imposed conditions intended to prevent the site from operating as a campground or a commercial outdoor‑storage yard.
Richard Rose, who operates the Bear Lake Trailhead business, told the council that trailhead parking has occurred at his site and that groups sometimes stay there. Planning Commission Chair Dan Kurek noted that the conditional use permit for the nearby Dance Place allows reunions and church groups but is not a campground and forbids RV sewer dumping. Kurek said the original CUP had been lost and was reissued a few years ago.
Council Member Brad Davis said the town had no record of outdoor storage being part of Rose’s license and emphasized that state law requires demonstration of prior lawful operation for any grandfathered outdoor storage. “Without an established business license stating such, there is no legality,” Davis said. Council members agreed trailhead parking could be permitted as long as it is time‑limited and not used for camping.
The council’s approved motion defines trailhead parking as leaving a vehicle on site for the purpose of recreational use off‑site; overnight camping is prohibited. Council Member Davis and Council Member Larsen discussed a 72‑hour maximum as the enforceable time limit; Rose said that typically visitors park for that length of time and “I think that will be fine.” The council discussed fencing, asphalt, and other requirements if outdoor storage were ever proposed; at present, outdoor storage remains prohibited except through a separate conditional use permitting process in a C3 zone.
The motion to approve the Bear Lake Trailhead business license for trailhead parking carried with Council Members Davis, House and Larsen voting in favor.
Council and staff directed follow‑up actions: amend or issue a specific CUP or business‑license condition to record the 72‑hour limit and explicitly prohibit camping and overnight occupancy of vehicles on trailhead parking; clarify whether any existing uses require retroactive approval under state or local code.
