By Jenelle Zajac, For Iron County Today
The meeting began early to have parliamentary procedure training and to hear a development proposal.
Parliamentary Procedure Training
The meeting began with a parliamentary procedure training session, aimed at equipping council members with better tools for making motions and conducting meetings efficiently. The session covered key parliamentary concepts such as amending motions, substitute motions, and dividing questions.
Legacy B Estates Planned Unit Development (PUD) Agreement Discussion
The Legacy B Estates project is in an R3 zone and involves a Planned Unit Development (PUD) application, which allows for flexibility in zoning code requirements like street widths, lot sizes. etc. The application was submitted before the city’s zoning code update, “Rural Done Right,” which limited PUDs. The project vested under the old code, meaning the developer is entitled to the process of review under the regulations in place at the time of application. If approved, this development will be located across from the Eagle Rock subdivision on 2200W.
The development application process has been extensive, involving multiple iterations of design and discussions with the planning commission and city council. Previously, the planning commission provided a neutral recommendation, and the city council raised various concerns, leading the developer to revise plans multiple times. The council noted that negotiations occurred publicly, which can be inefficient but is a necessary part of the process. The developer had previously pulled the project from the agenda to explore alternative configurations, including conventional subdivisions.
A significant shift in the developer’s proposal is the change from selling individual lots to a ground lease model for home sites. This means residents would own their homes but lease the land beneath them. This model aims to provide affordable housing options, as the overall cost of entry would be lower than traditional home ownership where lot purchase is required. The developer presented this as a way to address the lack of affordable housing in the area, where homes are priced significantly higher.
Discussions delved into the financial aspects of the leased lot model. The estimated monthly lease payment for the land is around six hundred dollars. This cost, combined with the mortgage for the home, would result in a total monthly payment potentially under a thousand dollars for a $150,000 home, according to the developer. This contrasts with conventional subdivisions where homes are significantly more expensive. However, some council members expressed concern that the “affordable” aspect might be diluted by the monthly land lease cost. Questions were also raised about the loan options available for manufactured homes on leased land and whether or not there is potential for these homes to appreciate.
Council members raised concerns about the long-term implications of a leased lot model, particularly regarding potential future sale of the entire development, owner displacement, and the maintenance of the development’s infrastructure. While the developer stated that such parks have historically been stable and successful, council members emphasized the need for strong safeguards in the development agreement. These safeguards would aim to protect residents in scenarios like a change in property ownership, ensuring fair treatment, proper maintenance, and clear contractual terms. The concept of private ownership of the land by the developer, with residents leasing home sites, was likened to a park model RV development.
Water rights and the developer’s proposed clustered water meter approach for water management were highlighted as significant technical issues. The council acknowledged that these would need thorough review by city engineers to ensure compliance with standards and adequate fire flow. However, a decision on the fundamental concept of leased lots was deemed a prerequisite to addressing these technical details.
The council acknowledged the complexity of the Legacy B Estates proposal and the need for further deliberation. A special “action meeting” was proposed for Monday, August 17th, at 6:30 PM. This meeting will focus on working through the outstanding issues related to the development agreement between the city and the developer. It will support detailed discussion and potential voting on specific issues. The goal is to provide the developer with clear direction on what the council is comfortable with, and enable them to move forward with the development agreement or reconsider their proposal.
Action Agenda
Reserve Police Officer Pay Rate Increase
The council approved a proposal to update the pay rate for reserve officers to address recruitment and retention issues. Chief Adams explained the difficulty in getting reserve officers to work shifts, resulting in current officers being overworked and paid overtime. The request was to increase the pay rate to $31 per hour.
Reroofing Ordinance Update
Ordinance 2026-08 was presented to update PCMC 11.01.020 regarding building permits for house reroofing. The proposed change adds an exception to permit requirements for ordinary roof maintenance, repair, or replacement, provided no structural members are altered, roof geometry is unchanged, and no additional structural loads are imposed. Modifications to roof framing or sheathing would still require a permit. The council ultimately voted to pass the ordinance with a motion to make it retroactive to January 1st, with an amended effective date of January 6th. The purpose of retroactive dating was so that refunds could be issued to parties that have overpaid.
Heritage Hills Holding LLC Annexation
City Manager Dan Jessen explained the annexation process, emphasizing that the council’s initial vote is to determine if the city is open to considering the petition. The Heritage Hills petition, covering parcels C-0159-0021-0000 and C-1059-0005-0004, was presented with a visual aid showing its location in the foothills south of the Heritage Hills subdivision on Highway 91. Concerns were raised about its Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) status and potential development challenges. The petitioner requested an “A1” zoning designation. After discussion about the parcel’s location, boundaries, and the developer’s intent for larger, equestrian-style lots, the council accepted the petition.
Daveco LLC Annexation
The second annexation petition was from Daveco LLC for parcel C-0945-0007-0000. This parcel is located west of 600W between 200N and 400N, City Manager Dan Jessen clarified that this petition included a portion of the freeway to ensure contiguous city boundaries. The property owner expressed a desire for flexibility in zoning, initially listing “residential, commercial, industrial,” and later specifying R1 for residential and commercial for potential buildings. Concerns were raised about the placement and impact of a proposed frontage road on neighboring properties and the city’s Master Transportation Plan. Discussions touched on potential land trades and the challenges of acquiring rights-of-way. After extensive deliberation, the council accepted the petition. The next steps involve legal review and public hearings.
Fleet Service Agreements
The council discussed awarding non-exclusive preferred fleet service agreements based on received RFPs. Three bids were received: Biasi Automotive & Diesel, Hardline Fleet Service, and Danny’s Field Service. Biasi focused on light and medium-duty vehicles, while the other two offered mobile services for heavy equipment, welding, and fabrication. Staff recommended awarding non-exclusive preferred agreements to all three providers to ensure flexibility, competitive pricing, and prompt service. The council made the decision to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute these agreements.
Work Agenda
Pressurized Irrigation and Racetrack Well
A discussion was held regarding the pressurized irrigation (PI) system and the potential use of the racetrack well to supplement irrigation. Councilmember Burton explained that the racetrack well, though functional, was previously reconfigured and its backflow preventers were moved to the ball fields. Reinstalling these components would cost approximately $14,000 and take several weeks. The well can be used for either culinary or pressurized irrigation (PI) water. Councilmember Topham raised concerns about the impact on PI rates and the necessity of using the well for PI, given current water restrictions and the availability of other sources. The council agreed to table the decision on reactivating the well until a future rate discussion in the fall, allowing for a more thorough evaluation of costs and benefits.
Proposed Zone Change for Parcel A-0026-0027-0000
The council revisited a proposed zone change for parcel A-0026-0027-0000 from A1 (Agricultural) to R2 (Residential). The parcel is located west of 600W between Center and 100N. This item had previously been denied as R3 due to notification issues and a legal opinion. The current proposal is for R2. City Manager Dan Jessen explained that R1 and A1 zoning have similar lot size requirements for residential projects, while R2 allows for smaller lot sizes (7,500 sq ft vs. 10,000 sq ft). Concerns were expressed by Councilmember Dean regarding traffic impact on existing subdivisions if the parcels were developed with higher density. Dean expressed that the proposed subdivision design itself is largely R1-like, with some R2 lots. The council discussed the need for secondary access and the subdivision review committee’s role. No immediate action was taken, with the item moving to the action agenda for a future meeting.
Cooperative Land Realignment, Road Dedication, and Property Exchange Agreement
An agreement with Lance Shotwell for a land swap and road dedication was presented. Shotwell owns parcels adjacent to a city-owned right-of-way (formerly Main Street in the vicinity of the bridge) and a spring protection area. The proposal involves Shotwell acquiring city parcels to consolidate his properties, while the city would gain the former Main Street right-of-way for park expansion and potentially gain another parcel. The road would be dedicated to the city. Dan Jessen outlined the multi-step process required, including vacating the road, boundary realignments, public hearings, and a final property trade. Concerns were raised about protecting the spring and the potential impact of road access on adjacent properties. The council agreed to discuss this further and approved the agreement as the first step in the process.
Reports, Updates, and Old Business
Councilmember Burton reported on attending the Water Board meeting, noting that the cemetery’s culinary water use was discussed, and recommended moving its usage to culinary to manage PI system allocations.
Councilmember Dean reported on attending a back-to-school night at Parowan Elementary and the Water Board meeting. He also mentioned a grant application for social connection initiatives and highlighted the successful completion of new crosswalks near the high school.
Councilmember Topham reported on attending the hazard mitigation meeting and the back-to-school night, highlighting the positive community spirit around the new “Ram Crossing” crosswalks. She also expressed gratitude for the timely restoration of power during an outage.
Councilmember Harris noted the completion of 200 S street improvements.
City Manager Jessen provided updates on several issues:
Flood Damage: The recent rain event caused damage to the dam associated with the breakwater, requiring cleanup and structural integrity assessment. Sewer line backups also occurred due to flooding, necessitating road repairs.
He also provided a detailed update on ongoing issues with the library’s roof, which is in poor condition and requires repair before the CIB loan remodel can be fully implemented.
Shade Tree Committee: A discussion on tree maintenance options is ongoing, with the committee tasked with further research and recommendations.
Meeks Pond: Efforts are underway to manage muddy water entering Meeks Pond by coordinating water diversions with the Reservoir Company and planning for a long-term connection to the pressurized irrigation system. The cause of the turbid water is the result of muddy stormwater flowing into the pond.
Generator Issue: The city hall generator failed during a power outage due to a lack of coolant. It will be serviced to prevent future issues.
Mayor Halterman hopes to enlist citizens to wage a war on goat heads (a noxious weed that is spreading rapidly!) and thanked everyone for their work and acknowledged everyone’s patience with the long agenda. She also asked for everyone to volunteer for the Iron County Fair that is needing volunteers for a successful fair.
Residents are encouraged to attend City Council Meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Parowan City Council Chambers. Alternatively, the meetings can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@parowancity2030