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Bluff planning commission to hold work session on zoning-code revisions after comparison with peer towns; tiny-house/RV language to be prioritized
Summary
Commissioners reviewed research comparing Bluff's zoning code to five similar Utah towns, agreed to a work session before substantive edits, and identified tiny-home and RV language and parcel alignment on the UGRC interactive zoning map as priorities for revision and feedback.
The Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission agreed June 4 to take a cautious, staged approach to revising the town's zoning code, scheduling a work session to evaluate the code before resuming subgroup revision work.
Commissioner Anne Brown presented research comparing Bluff's zoning code with those of five similarly sized Utah towns and described those towns' ordinances as significantly simpler. Brown said the comparison suggested areas where Bluff's code might be streamlined. Commissioner Brian Whitney cautioned against removing provisions without understanding the rationale of prior commissioners and recommended consulting former commissioners as part of the review. The commission emphasized that any revisions must comply with recent Utah state law changes affecting accessory dwelling units (ADUs), tiny homes and affordable-housing mandates.
The commission also cited the public comment from Stephen Reale earlier in the meeting as an example of confusing code language: Reale asked for clarification about apparent contradictions that treat tiny homes and tiny houses on wheels differently. Chair Malia Collins said the commission will research the question and return an answer to the commenter.
On mapping, Collins previewed an interactive zoning map drafted by the Utah Geospatial Resources Center (UGRC). Erin Nelson said she had already asked UGRC to add a Wildland-Urban Interface overlay and road names and to include airport facilities. Commissioner Marcia Hadenfeldt said parcel boundaries on the draft map appear misaligned with actual surveyed property lines and suggested adding closed alleys, private easements and access roads. Whitney suggested the parcel overlay may be pulling from an incomplete San Juan County parcel map. Collins will compile commissioner feedback and forward it to UGRC; the UGRC map remains owned and maintained by that center as a free service.
Administrative items: Chair Collins announced a mid-term vacancy following Caitlin McLennan's move; letters of interest are due Monday, June 15, and interviews will be conducted during the June 18 meeting using the commission's established questionnaire process.
Next steps: The commission will hold a work session to vet proposed zoning-code edits, with tiny-home/RV language used as a focused example, and will send compiled interactive-map feedback to UGRC.
