Draper City Planning Commission Meeting - February 26, 2026

The Draper City Planning Commission met on Thursday, February 26, 2026, for three public hearings. The meeting included a site plan and cross-access deviation for a proposed bar, a home occupation conditional use permit for a lawn mowing business, and a city-initiated boundary adjustment with Highland City.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Shalise Benjamin (resident across from Jones property) expressed support for Jones Lawn Mowing, stating the dumpster is not noisy or smelly and that the applicant has been a good neighbor.
• Sean Benjamin (resident at 192 East Browns Loop Way) echoed his wife's support, noting the dumpster noise is comparable to regular garbage trucks and that the applicant operates responsibly.
• Mary Ann Norling (resident in The Cottages) raised questions about Highland City's purchase of the boundary adjustment parcel (potential trail use), the Suncrest development agreement, the Hillside Sensitive Overlay, appropriate city contacts, and signage visibility. The commission and staff noted her concerns and provided answers or offered to follow up.

Discussion Items

1. The Break Site Plan and Cross-Access Deviation (Applications 2024-0356-SP and 2025-0271-VAR)

• Applicant: Gary Knapp (JZW Architects) and Mike Colligan (Aspen General Contracting) representing LM Restaurant Group LC for a bar at approximately 12240 South 700 East.
• Site Plan Details: 1.02 acres, 38 parking stalls (code requires 35-42), 22% landscape coverage (code requires 20%), parking lot landscape at 8% (code requires 7%).
• Non-Compliant Items: The north property line buffer is 18-19 feet with a proposed 6-foot fence; staff recommended an 8-foot masonry wall. Light pole color was not specified (must be black) and maximum illumination ratio was 9.7:1 and 11.5:1 after hours, far exceeding the required 2.5:1.
• Cross-Access Deviation: Sought due to a significant grade change (exceeding 12% slope) along the south property line; staff verified the slope exceeds the maximum. The adjacent property was not previously designed for reciprocal access.
• Staff Conditions: Eight-foot fence, black light poles, revised photometric plan, property consolidation, and other standard conditions.
• Commission Discussion: Clarified that garage doors in an older rendering have been removed. The slope was confirmed by staff to exceed 12%.

2. Jones Lawn Mowing LLC Home Occupation Conditional Use Permit (Application 2025-0273-USE)

• Applicant: Naaman Jones, operating a lawn mowing service from his residence at 191 East Browns Loop Way.
• Operations: Equipment stored in third-car garage (including a trailer), two non-resident employees meet at the home, business administration done from a small home office, and a 4-cubic-yard dumpster for grass clippings emptied four times per week.
• Staff-Identified Issues: Driveway width exceeds 30 feet at the sidewalk (condition to reduce); dumpster must be screened and maintained without nuisance; trailer storage condition needed clarification.
• Commission Concerns: The dumpster frequency (4 times per week) and early morning noise complaint (6:30 AM during a swap-out) were major sticking points. Applicant could not confirm off-site dumpster relocation immediately but proposed to investigate.
• Neighbor Testimony: Two neighbors living across the street expressed no issues with noise or smell.
• Modifications to Conditions: Strike conditions 8 and 9 (dumpster-related). Add condition: dumpster removed from property by April 1, 2026, and no dumpster used onsite thereafter. Add trailer to condition 7 (storage in third-car garage). Modify condition 5 to limit non-resident employees at the home to a maximum of two.

3. Highland Boundary Adjustment – Land Use and Zoning Map Amendments (Applications 2026-0017-MA and 2026-0018-MA)

• City-Initiated: Removal of approximately 0.25 acres at 16199 South 3300 East from Draper City's zoning/land use maps due to a municipal boundary adjustment with Highland City.
• Staff Presentation: The parcel is a narrow sliver purchased by Highland City, likely for future trail access. The Hillside Low Density land use and A-5 zoning with Sensitive Lands Overlay will be removed from Draper's maps.
• Public Comment: Mary Ann Norling asked about the purpose, Suncrest development agreement applicability, and the Hillside Sensitive Overlay. Staff noted the parcel may be excluded from the Suncrest agreement and that additional questions could be directed to Todd Draper.
• Next Step: The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the city council hearing on March 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

Key Outcomes

• The Break Cross-Access Deviation: Approved unanimously (5-0) based on findings in the staff report and criteria E2 D1 (grade change and lack of prior reciprocal access).
• The Break Site Plan: Approved unanimously (5-0) subject to six conditions including an 8-foot fence on the north, black light poles, and revised lighting plans.
• Jones Lawn Mowing Conditional Use Permit: Approved unanimously (5-0) with modified conditions: dumpster removed by April 1, 2026; trailer included in equipment storage; non-resident employees at home limited to two.
• Highland Boundary Adjustment: The commission voted unanimously (5-0) to forward a positive recommendation to the city council for both land use and zoning map amendments.