Sandy City Board of Adjustment Approves Variance for Steep Slope Property (September 10, 2026)

On Thursday, September 10, 2026, the Sandy City Board of Adjustment held a regular meeting at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers, preceded by a field trip and an executive session. The board heard a single public hearing item—a variance request for 10156 Majestic Canyon Road—approved it with modified conditions, and elected officers for the upcoming year. Four members were present (Burke Staker, Jim Edwards, Matt Hale, Josh Chandler); three were absent (Bruce Bryner, Brian Jones, Tyler Brown).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sharon Orlando, 10165 S Majestic Canyon Road, stated that neighbors were not informed about the development and expressed opposition, citing safety concerns on the steep, unbuildable lot and potential road undermining.
• Barbara Luiten, 10174 S Majestic Canyon Road, raised four questions: whether the buyer knew the lot was not buildable, whether the builder is coordinating with the city, whether the recently overhauled storm drain needs further work, and whether the wildlife corridor is being considered.
• Daniel Rino, 10104 S Majestic Canyon Road, expressed concern that if the house slides down the hill, it would endanger his child’s yard.

Discussion Items

• Variance Request (BOA0804202) – Porter Rappleye, the applicant, requested variances to build a single-family home on a lot with slopes exceeding 30% (some areas 50% or steeper), a reduced front setback (5 ft to property line, 10 ft to sidewalk), and a driveway partially in the public right-of-way over a storm drain easement. The lot is a legal plat from 1978 in the R-1-10 zone with a sensitive area overlay.
• Staff Presentation – Melissa Anderson, Zoning Administrator, recommended approval with nine conditions. Staff noted the lot lacks a 5,000 sq ft area with less than 30% slope, making development impossible without variances. A geotechnical report showed adequate stability with a factor of safety even under the house weight. The utility easement includes a 30-inch storm pipe requiring upsizing from a 15-inch corrugated metal pipe. Travis Ackerman, city engineer, confirmed the engineering conditions address slope stability and road temporary shoring during construction.
• Board Deliberation – Members questioned slope safety, precedent (a prior variance on Wasatch for a 40-50% slope), and the responsibility of engineers (liable if designs fail). The driveway over the easement requires a retaining wall and upsized concrete pipe; the homeowner would replace driveway if utilities need access. Condition #6 originally limited the footprint to 1,885 sq ft, but the architectural plans show 1,932 sq ft (including garage, front porch, and rear balcony). The board agreed to modify the condition to 1,955 sq ft to allow the porch. The board also discussed the lack of a backyard (applicant cited proximity to ski resorts), wildlife corridor concerns (no prescribed corridor, but easement restricts fencing to black/brown/green chain link), and visual impacts (single-story home likely does not block views of neighbors).

Key Outcomes

• Variance Approval – A motion by Burke Staker, seconded by Matt Hale, to approve the variances based on the nine findings and nine conditions in the staff report, with a modification to Condition #6: the home’s total footprint (including garage, front porch, and rear balcony) shall be no larger than 1,955 square feet. The motion carried 4-0 (Staker, Edwards, Hale, Chandler voting yes; Bryner, Jones, Brown absent).
• Election of Chair and Vice Chair – The board elected Brian Jones as Chair and Tyler Brown as Vice Chair for the upcoming year, both absent but voted in unanimously (4-0).
• Adjournment – The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote.