Planning commission recommends against R‑3 rezoning for west-side parcel, signals support for R‑2

The Parowan Planning & Zoning Commission on May 6 voted to send a negative recommendation on a requested R‑3 rezoning for Parcel A‑0026‑0027‑0000 on the city’s west side, saying the commission would prefer the property be zoned R‑2.

Staff member (S2) presented maps and a pre‑preliminary plat for the property at roughly 200 North and 600 West and emphasized the developer’s stated intent: “They’re single family homes, and they’re on bigger lots than what kind of these neighboring lots are that are in R 3,” S2 said, noting most proposed lots are about 8,000–10,000 square feet and only four lots fall under the 7,500‑square‑foot threshold that would technically require R‑3 zoning.

Commission members pressed on the practical effects of R‑2 versus R‑3. One commissioner (S1) said the preliminary layout already resembles R‑2 and expressed concern about future unspecified changes, stating, “I would feel way more comfortable with it being zoned R 2 than R 3.” Staff advised the commission that the city council has final authority and that, if council approves R‑2, the developer would have to reconfigure the four small lots (potentially combining them) during subdivision review.

After discussion about lot counts, allowed housing types and density calculations, commission member S1 moved to send a negative recommendation on the R‑3 rezoning and indicated the commission would be comfortable if council approved R‑2 instead; the motion was seconded by S4 and approved. Staff said the city will hold a second public hearing at city council to address residents’ concerns about notice and to allow the council to act on the map amendment.

The commission’s recommendation is advisory; city council will make the final decision following an additional public hearing.