Midvale planning commission approves preliminary subdivision, recommends two rezones and OKs public‑works plat

The Midvale City Planning Commission on May 20 advanced several land‑use items, approving a preliminary two‑lot subdivision, recommending a private rezone on a large vacant High‑tech Drive property and endorsing a city‑initiated rezone and preliminary plat to consolidate the Midvale City Public Works Complex.

Staff planner Jonathan told the commission the subdivision application for 6751 South 900 East "meets all the preliminary subdivision requirements," and that the proposal would allow an existing commercial building to be divided so a unit could be sold separately. There were no public comments on the item. A commissioner moved to approve the subdivision with the findings in the staff report; the motion carried by roll call.

Brent Vincent, of Vincent Design Architects, representing a client identified as Arca, asked the commission to recommend rezoning a large, vacant former big‑box property along South High‑tech Drive from regional commercial to clean industrial. Vincent said the current building has been difficult to lease and that rezoning to allow smaller, flex‑style tenants could activate the site: "we could get some business on an empty site," he said. Staff told the commission the rezone is consistent with the general plan objective to redevelop underused properties and noted that the clean industrial zone allows uses such as storage yards, warehousing and light manufacturing that are not normally permitted in regional commercial areas. Legal counsel reminded the commission that this rezone recommendation is advisory to the City Council. The commission voted to recommend approval.

On a city‑initiated item, planning staff presented a rezone to make the Midvale City Public Works Complex uniformly zoned clean industrial with a public facilities overlay and to remove several prior overlays. Jeremy Thorn, Midvale's Public Works Director, described the existing facility as undersized for current staffing and equipment and said the expansion has "been planned for at least 10 years" to accommodate operations and vehicle storage. Planner Wendolyn summarized site‑plan elements included with the rezone application, noting added landscaping, islands in the parking field and a fence intended to buffer nearby residential neighbors. The commission recommended the rezone to the Council.

The commission also approved a preliminary plat to consolidate multiple parcels that currently make up the Public Works Complex into a single parcel; staff said final plat details will be handled at the administrative level.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (05/13/2026): motion passed (approved). - Preliminary subdivision — 6751 South 900 East (two‑lot, commercial): motion passed (approved). - Rezone — parcel on South High‑tech Drive (private application, regional commercial to clean industrial): recommendation to City Council passed. - City‑initiated rezone — Midvale City Public Works Complex (uniform clean industrial + public facilities overlay): recommendation to City Council passed. - Preliminary plat — Midvale City Public Works consolidation: motion passed (approved).

What happens next: The private rezone and the city‑initiated Public Works rezone are legislative recommendations; the Planning Commission forwarded those recommendations to the Midvale City Council for final action. Staff said the preliminaries for the subdivision and plat will be followed by final‑phase reviews and typical ministerial checks at the staff level.

The Planning Department closed with a brief reminder about an upcoming mural festival; the commission adjourned at about 6:24 p.m.