Duchesne County recesses public hearing on land‑use appeal ordinance to July 13

Community Development Administrator Mike Gottfredson said Duchesne County staff will revise and refile an ordinance that would change how local land‑use appeals are reviewed and heard, and the county commission voted on Monday to recess the public hearing until July 13, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Gottfredson told the commission that Ordinance No. 26‑432 would amend county code in five main ways to bring the code into compliance with 2026 SB 284 and other changes in state law: it would (1) update appeal and variance hearing requirements, (2) change the local standard of review for appeals, (3) establish a single land‑use appeal authority, (4) consolidate Planning personnel and administrative body names, and (5) update Utah Code cross‑references. He said the Planning Commission opened a public hearing on the ordinance June 3 and recessed that hearing to allow the Planning Division Administrator and county attorney to finalize draft language.

Commissioner Tracy Killian moved to recess the county public hearing on Ordinance No. 26‑432 until July 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.; Commissioners Jeff Chugg and Greg Miles seconded and voted aye, and the motion passed unanimously. No substantive amendments were adopted at the June 8 session; staff will return with the revised ordinance after the Planning Commission addresses the item on July 1 and finalizes the draft.

The recess preserves the county's opportunity to incorporate recent state changes in the Utah Code and to allow the Planning Division Administrator and county attorney time to complete and review ordinance language before the county resumes its public hearing.