Daniel commission recommends denying rezoning request near Heber Valley Airport

The Daniel Planning Commission voted May 20 to recommend denial to the town council of a request to rezone a five-acre parcel at 1680 W 3000 S from RA-5 (residential) to commercial, citing town policies against spot zoning and uncertainty over the scope and timing of Heber Valley Airport property acquisitions.

Applicant representative Chase Chamberlain said the property owners (the Calls) anticipated the parcel could not remain residential if Heber City acquires airport-adjacent land and asked for parity with other nearby properties that had been rezoned; he cited comparative figures, saying a nearby five-acre property reportedly sold to Heber City at about $550,000 per acre while his client’s residential appraisal was roughly $350,000 per acre. "They're merely trying to get the highest and best use of his property in light of the airport expansion," Chamberlain said.

Several commissioners, including Vice Chair Byron Horner and Commissioner Pam Skinner, said the proposal would constitute spot zoning because the parcel is isolated from existing commercial zones and that rezoning could set an unwanted precedent. Commissioner Tim Jones cautioned that commercial zoning confers development rights that might be exercised in the future even if the current owner says they do not intend commercial use. Public commenters including Chip Polvoorde, who identified himself as serving on a Heber City advisory board, urged care, warning that rezoning could complicate Heber City's planned acquisitions and grant matching for the airport expansion.

After public comment and deliberation, Commissioner Horner moved to recommend denial; the commission voted unanimously to forward that recommendation to the town council. The denial recommendation was recorded as a formal commission action.