Council approves pre-annexation for 200-acre Solara project; development agreement vote fails, then is reconsidered

The Toquerville City Council on May 20 approved an ordinance authorizing a pre-annexation agreement with Solara Communities, LLC for a 200-acre property proposed for residential development. The pre-annexation ordinance passed 4-1 after discussion of fiscal impacts, nightly-rental allowances and project timing.

Aaron Tilton, representing Solara Communities, said the applicant had completed site tours and Planning Commission reviews and raised concerns about the city’s review process and project timeline. City Manager Ben Billingsley presented a fiscal-impact summary and answered questions about the timing of city expenditures and revenues related to the project.

Council discussion focused on potential impacts, including proposed nightly-rental units within the development and how impact credits would be handled. Councilman Joey Campbell moved to approve the pre-annexation ordinance and a proposed development agreement with specified edits; that pre-annexation motion carried 4-1 (Joey Campbell–aye; Wayne Olsen–nay; Jenny Chamberlain–aye; Val Preslar–aye; Todd Sands–aye).

The separate motion to approve the development agreement — which would govern up to 1,500 residential units including single-family homes, townhomes, and multifamily units — failed on a 3-2 vote. Council then voted 4-1 to reconsider the failed motion, but the minutes do not record a subsequent final vote adopting the development agreement. As recorded, no final approval of the development agreement appears in the meeting minutes.