The Riverton City Planning Commission met on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 12830 S. Redwood Road, Riverton, Utah. Chair Evan Matheson called the meeting to order at approximately 6:30 p.m.; it adjourned at approximately 8:50 p.m. Commissioners present: Matheson, Beck, Cannon, Cluff, Keele, Knudsen, Rushton. Staff present: Planning Director Jason Lethbridge, City Planner Tim Prestwich, Planner Lisa Halversen, City Attorney Ryan Carter. The commission conducted public hearings on two conditional use permits, a zoning text amendment, a historic sites text amendment, discussed architectural design standards, elected 2025 officers, and approved prior minutes.
Bear River Converters (PLZ-24-2042): Planner Lisa Halversen presented a conditional use permit request for a home occupation selling exhaust system components at 1897 W. Park Avenue. The .67-acre property is zoned R-4. Applicant Anna Millsap has operated the inherited family business for 10 years, using a detached garage for about 50% business storage; large components are drop-shipped from manufacturers, and trucks make deliveries six to eight times per year. No customers visit the property and no manufacturing occurs on site. A nearby neighbor who initially expressed concern about noise/traffic withdrew her objection after learning the business had operated for 10 years. Public comment was opened and closed with no comments. Commissioner Keele moved to approve with conditions allowing two non-resident employees, requiring off-street parking, and limiting business storage to 50% of the garage. The motion passed unanimously.
Far West Environmental (PLZ-24-2044): City Planner Tim Prestwich presented a conditional use permit for an environmental testing lab office at 12166 S. Redwood Road in the Commercial Neighborhood (C-N) zone. The applicant, Dawn Sansing with Far West Environmental, was unable to attend but submitted an email stating the space will be used only as administrative office; no materials testing, sampling, or storage will occur on site. The existing commercial building is separated from residential properties by an eight-foot wall. One or two calls were received but no comments/objections were submitted. Public comment was opened and closed with no comments. Commissioner Cannon moved to approve with conditions: no exterior modifications, no outside storage except work-related vehicles, and no on-site material testing. The motion passed unanimously.
Joseph White Code Text Amendment (PLZ-24-5006): Staff explained that applicant Joseph White, who operates Wasatch Arts School, requested amending the Table of Commercial Uses to make 'Reception Centers' a conditional use in the C-N zone. Because this is a citywide text amendment, the Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council. Staff noted the C-N zone is the most restrictive and least-applied zone, and that reception centers currently are conditional in C-D and C-G, permitted in C-R and PCC, and not permitted in C-N or C-PO. Commissioners discussed concerns about citywide impacts, parking requirements, noise, and blurring zone distinctions. Several commissioners, including Cluff, Rushton, and Matheson, said a reception center would fit Mr. White's property but should not be added as a conditional use in the C-N zone; they preferred a rezone of the property to Commercial Gateway (C-G). Mr. White argued the C-N zone has protections, such as hours limits and conditional use review, and that only five C-N areas exist; he also noted a shared parking agreement for overflow. The public hearing was opened and closed with no public comments. Commissioner Cluff moved to recommend denial of the text amendment, keeping the existing Table of Uses, and recommending that the property be considered for a rezone to C-G. Commissioner Knudsen seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Historic Sites Ordinance Text Amendment (PLZ-25-5001): City Attorney Ryan Carter presented a proposed amendment to Section 18.63.040 to lower the minimum historic structure age from 75 years to 50 years, matching state statute, and to allow a plaque at city expense. The Historic Preservation Commission completed an inventory and found no meaningful structures meeting the current 75-year threshold. Commissioner Rushton opposed the change, arguing the city should not lower the bar solely because the commission had nothing to preserve, and he also objected to a 10-day demolition documentation delay. Commissioners Keele and Cannon supported the change, noting it would recognize older homes and encourage pride. Commissioner Keele moved to recommend approval; Commissioner Cluff seconded. The motion passed 6-to-1, with Commissioner Rushton voting no.
Oh my gosh, the unintended consequences. I told you when we were doing the top volume pilot program that church Sunday school sent some guy down to watch us a friend of the sun beams that during the third hour because by then they're shot at all wrapping themselves in the bathtub. He didn't know where we're going for watching marching down the hall. His eyes got like this. Every week is it the parents won't come to them and play them with your own stuff that says I know but what else I'm supposed to do. And you just he wouldn't go ahead and pursue me at two other church. That poor man, you can tell he's like, should I go in for the sake of the children? No, I shouldn't. I do safety training. Like, yeah. Every week I have to decide if I can ruin my life or clean your safety. One kid exactly or one person walks in and I'm pretty sure then all the safety trainings are animated. They weren't animated and yeah, I had to watch them. But I remember one did you know they they showed the kid at the campusite and the scoutmaster comes over the one that on camera, you know, but you're doing camera. But I could have everybody cracked. I'm sure they saw it. Like God they had as much. Okay, yeah, I just thought it was loud, like Timmy. So they think we built this, they paid us to put it off at first it was eight. We want to just be national. And then resumes. Could you look far? Think about something. Focus on something. Well, should I really pray or just like alright? All right. Like you say there in your house. We thought we were doing like an hour interview, but they were there to about six hours. And there was like eight of them. And then you like had you would change clothes and they had us stage things, they jump in the car with all the pearls and uh you looked irritated. Yeah, that was a good mirror or all of that was like you know, 30 seconds or so. So I can't say that I go to the bench. This one. I mean there's no extra reason why something like reception is different. So then I mean it'd be hard. So I mean there's not far from the current uses for the the thought behind that would be the worst thing in the world that I tell us. I would say all of them. No, he doesn't. And then he refinished that in place variety. So I know Harry. But the question is you guys in the council. Yeah, that's the that's what not just those. I don't know. It was in fact you know, maybe all the hours. I mean, I don't have to you know three results wrong. Well, that's so I don't like that one that are actually and then we're gonna have to do it. Um just went on shine. And I think we got the right here this week show it, but all that studies are the same thing. Yeah, yeah, in the water. So you are supposed to do it.