Riverton Planning Commission Meeting – July 9, 2026
Riverton Planning Commission Meeting – July 9, 2026
The Riverton Planning Commission met on July 9, 2026, at 1:30 PM MDT to consider two public hearing items: a two‑lot subdivision amendment (Oaker Estates Lot 13 Amended) and a multifamily townhome site plan (Towns at 118th South). Both items were approved after discussion and public comment. The commission also approved the minutes of the June 25, 2026, meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Oaker Estates Lot 13 Amended: Two residents spoke in opposition. Terry Seegan, an adjacent property owner, stated the subdivision would degrade the quality of life on Gilbert Circle and argued that meeting code requirements does not make it the right decision for the neighborhood. Ethan Imlay, a nearby resident, expressed concerns about the practicality and long‑term viability of the rear lot, particularly regarding access, parking, drainage, and emergency services. He urged the city to clearly demonstrate that both lots are compliant, buildable, and functional.
- Towns at 118th South: One resident, Virginia Baird (a property owner trading land for a townhome), spoke in favor of the project but opposed adding a pedestrian bridge across Midas Creek, citing cost and noting that residents would not necessarily use it.
Discussion Items
Oaker Estates Lot 13 Amended (PLZ-26-1002)
- Applicant: Blaine Brady proposed a two‑lot subdivision of 0.57 acres at 12666 South Gilbert Circle, creating one new lot accessed by a 20‑foot private lane with a fire turnaround. Staff reported that the plans meet city ordinance and have been approved by engineering, stormwater, fire, and water departments. The property is surrounded by commercial uses on three sides and compatible R4 zoning to the south. Fencing will include an eight‑foot masonry wall along most of the incompatible commercial interface.
- Public comment raised concerns about private lane maintenance, emergency access, and the precedent of subdividing a cul‑de‑sac lot. Staff and commissioners responded that the city does not have a different standard for cul‑de‑sacs, that the developer is entitled to approval if code is met, and that any policy changes would be forward‑looking only.
- Commissioners noted the subdivision is more restrictive than an ADU process and provides greater city control. They also clarified that the private lane will be maintained by property owners via CC&Rs; if an obstruction blocks emergency access, the fire department may request law enforcement intervention.
Towns at 118th South (PLZ-26-8015)
- Applicant: Scott Yermish (Priority Builders) proposed a 41‑unit townhome development on 5.17 acres at the northwest corner of 118th South and Redwood Road. The site includes Midas Creek, which will be cleaned up and serve as a central amenity. Parking exceeds code (117 stalls vs. 103 required), and open space is 62% (above the 20% minimum). Units feature stone and HardiePlank siding, 10‑foot ceilings, and over 2,200 finished square feet. The development is split into two sections (12 units accessed from Redwood Road, 29 from 118th South) due to the inability to acquire adjacent UDOT and private parcels.
- Midas Creek: Engineer Josh Kerr (Ensign Engineering) detailed that FEMA floodplain mapping was recently updated; no grading will alter the main conveyance. The development will restrict stormwater discharge to 0.02 CFS per acre (a tenfold reduction from previous standards) via underground detention. Salt Lake County will have access to culverts for emergency maintenance. The developer has obtained permits to reinforce eroded banks with riprap.
- Connectivity: A key discussion centered on providing a pedestrian crossing across Midas Creek to connect the north and south sections. The applicant initially proposed a bridge (estimated at over $100,000) but offered instead a walking path through the creek channel (98% dry). Commissioners expressed safety concerns for children crossing Redwood Road and favored some form of improved path. The applicant agreed to apply for county/corps approval for a walking path.
- Fencing: Existing masonry fences along incompatible uses will be retained; new eight‑foot masonry will be added along Redwood Road and side yards. A three‑rail vinyl fence is proposed along 118th South.
Key Outcomes
- Oaker Estates Lot 13 Amended: Approved unanimously (6‑0) with standard conditions 1–12.
- Towns at 118th South: Approved 5‑0 (Commissioner Cannon abstained) with conditions 1–18, plus an added condition requiring the applicant to apply for and, if approved, construct a walking path connecting the north and south sections of the development. The commission also directed that landscaping on the north side include a tot lot and additional usable open space.
- Minutes: The minutes of the June 25, 2026, meeting were approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Nine twenty twenty-sixth. Uh my name is Darren Park. I am the chairman of the commission. And we will start off initially with a roll call, and then we'll do our pledge of allegiance for tonight. So we'll start uh to my right here. If uh let me let me open up the interim. Thank you. Commissioner Beck. Commissioner Park. Commissioner Clouth. Commissioner Marzo. Commissioner Gannon. Thank you, everyone. All right, and if you would please join us, I will uh go ahead and lead us today in our Pledge of Allegiance if you'd please stand. I pledge to America. Thank you all very much. Um with that being so close on the heels of it, I hope you all enjoyed your uh independence holiday weekend and uh hopefully everybody got to come out and the firework show here at the park was amazing this year. So um anyway, we're all glad to have you tonight. Just to start off again, this is a public meeting. Um we do have a couple of items on our agenda today that are um consideration and public hearings. So if you are here to speak on uh any of those items, you will be given the opportunity to do that. We're glad to hear from you. Um we'll address those uh parameters when we get there. But let's uh let's jump right in. Go to number two, the public hearings portion of our meeting tonight. Item two A. And we'll get started. Item two A is the Oaker Estates Lot Thirteen Amended. This is PLZ two six-one zero zero two. An amended application for a two-lot subdivision of about zero point five seven acres, located at one twenty-six sixty-six South Gilbert Circle Circle. The applicant is Blaine Brady, and at this time we'll turn it over to Staffer Report. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh the planning commission should be familiar with this. This is uh the second time you've seen this this time as a subdivision application. We saw it a little uh in April, I believe, uh, for the private lane authorization. Then the pl at that time the planning commission approved the private lane for one additional lot here. This is the zoning map of the city, and you can see the subject property flying in right there near the corner of twenty-seven hundred west and one twenty-six. You zoom in a little bit, it's the property with the star. As you will recall, this is surrounded by a commercial property on the east, west, and north, and then is accessed by a cul-de-sac with all similar zoning of the R4 zone uh to the south. This is the property from seen from the air and the map that we sent on the public mailers. We did receive uh one public written public comment uh from the mailers that we sent out, and that was entered into the public record in the share folder that you have that you had access to. Here's the property on the askewed uh oblique. You can see the house right here and the vacant property. Just point out this is the commercial commercial landscape center, commercial. I think this is a dentist's office, and then the landscape which wraps around, and then everything to the south is cul-de-sac and access. The development would bring access right here along this path and create a new lot in the back with a fire turnaround. I'll show that to you in just a second here. Oh, there's the property. Ah, some reason I have a whole bunch of text that you don't need to see, but that's all right.
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