Planning Commission recommends adding retaining-wall engineering review to Chapter 17.40

During a public hearing on Aug. 20, 2026 the Millville Planning Commission reviewed proposed amendments to Chapter 17.40 of the Millville City Code and voted to recommend the changes to City Council. The draft language adds a specific retaining-walls section requiring engineered designs for retaining walls that need a zoning clearance; the code text states, "All retaining walls that require a zoning clearance must be designed by an engineer licensed in the State of Utah." Commissioner Garrett Greenhalgh moved to open the public hearing; Commissioner Matt Anderson seconded. The hearing was closed and Commissioner Lynette Dickey moved to recommend the Chapter 17 changes to City Council; Commissioner Matt Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The proposed Chapter 17.40 language in the meeting packet includes detailed submittal requirements: profile and cross-section drawings for walls longer than 25 lineal feet, geotechnical reports, laboratory soil testing or equivalent data, manufacturer test data for segmented walls, and global-stability and seismic analyses with minimum factors-of-safety (1.50 static, 1.10 seismic) except in narrowly defined exceptions. The draft also requires drainage design behind walls and notes that walls four feet or taller require zoning clearance and may trigger engineering review even if under external loads. The commission forwarded the recommendation to the City Council for formal ordinance action and public notice.