Administrative hearing officer grants variance for Watchman subdivision lots

The Springdale administrative hearing officer granted a variance for properties in the Watchman subdivision, town officials announced April 17. Niall Connolly, director of community development, read the decision on behalf of Administrative Hearing Officer Brian Patterson and said, "The variance is granted."

The application sought relief from Springdale town code 10-15-B-9-A, which the announcement described as the town provision that "prohibits disturbance of slopes with grades of 30% or more." The hearing on the application was held April 2, 2026; the decision is dated April 15, 2026. The applicant is Wendell Burnett, who was represented at the hearing by engineer Jared Bates, the director said as he summarized the record and site visit that informed the ruling.

Connolly read that the hearing officer considered statements and presentations at the hearing, application materials and attachments from the town's principal planner, conducted a site visit and reviewed supplemental information submitted by the applicant specific to the ruling on unreasonable hardship. The readout said the variance is granted but requires that the applicant "comply with all the ordinances and standards applicable to the development and building process," including the grading standards in chapter 10-15-B of the Springdale ordinances, and "make every effort to minimize and mitigate any visual impacts of the improvements as the town may require."

The director said the full, detailed write-up of the decision and findings will be posted on the town website later the same day. The ruling is signed and dated April 15, 2026, by Brian Patterson, administrative hearing officer, according to the read summary.