Council tables hotel height and parking rules and a form-of-government ordinance; approves City Center rezone, ADU parking and new residential water-rights rates
January 16, 2024, 4:00 p.m. · Eagle Mountain City Council Chambers, 1650 E Stagecoach Run, Eagle Mountain, Utah
The council approved a City Center Commercial rezone and plat amendment, accessory dwelling unit rules requiring off-street parking for two vehicles, a change to the preliminary plat review period and a new residential water-rights formula. It tabled hotel height and parking rules until a hotel feasibility study is done, and tabled a proposed form-of-government ordinance to Feb. 6. Council Member Jared Gray took part electronically and left at 10:44 p.m.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Residential water rights requirement, EMMC 16.35.130(a) | Approved with conditions |
| Hotel standards: height and parking, EMMC 17.35.030 and 17.55.120 | Tabled |
| Accessory dwelling unit standards, EMMC 17.70.030 | Approved with conditions · 5-0 |
| Preliminary plat approval process, EMMC 16.20.050 | Approved · 5-0 |
| City Center Commercial Phase A, Plat 1 rezone and Lot 1 plat amendment | Approved · 5-0 |
| Form of government ordinance, new EMMC Chapter 2.08 and mayor pro tempore rules | Tabled · 5-0 |
| Brand and marketing playbook | Approved with conditions · 5-0 |
| Board appointments | Approved · 5-0 |
| Fiscal 2023 audit | Approved · 5-0 |
| Consent plats and site plans: Quailhill Stake temporary site plan, Marketplace medical easement | Approved · 5-0 |
| Gardner Farms concept, Eagle Mountain Boulevard (work session) | Discussed |
| Citywide zoning map (work session) | Discussed |
| Brightview landscaping settlement | Approved · 5-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 17.D · City code
Residential water rights requirement, EMMC 16.35.130(a)
Approved with conditions
City Engineer Chris Trusty presented a formula assuming 70 percent of irrigated area is sod and 30 percent xeriscape. It raises the outdoor requirement from 2.5 to 3.2 acre-feet per irrigable acre and cuts the indoor rate from 0.53 to 0.34 acre-feet. Multifamily requirements are about 80 percent lower than for other housing types. Council Member Rich Wood suggested a multifamily water usage study and Gray supported it. The council approved the ordinance, allowed staff to clarify PUD water use in non-multifamily communities and directed a multifamily study. It passed 4-1; the scan does not show who voted no. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item 17.C · City code
Hotel standards: height and parking, EMMC 17.35.030 and 17.55.120
Tabled
Economic Development Director Evan Berrett said hotels are often three to four stories and may exceed the 50-foot limit by 5 to 10 feet, and that Eagle Mountain requires one stall per bed where most cities use one per sleeping unit. Council Member Melissa Clark said it is hard to compare with other cities, Council Member Donna Burnham said appearance matters more than height, Wood opposed raising height, Council Member Brett Wright valued design standards and parking for extended-stay hotels, and Gray and Wood favored a consistent height standard. The city is seeking bids for a hotel feasibility study. The council tabled the item until it is complete 4-1; the scan does not show who voted no. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item 17.A · City code
Accessory dwelling unit standards, EMMC 17.70.030
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Planning Director Brandon Larsen presented changes under a 2023 state law that remove language limiting accessory dwelling units to basements or additions and allow them in garages. Wood asked for parking for four vehicles per home for snow removal and safety. The council revised the location language and required off-street parking for two vehicles. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item 17.B · City code
Preliminary plat approval process, EMMC 16.20.050
Approved · 5-0
Senior Planner David Stroud said state code requires a 15-day initial review for certain preliminary plats where city policy is 10 days. The council approved language referencing state code Chapter 10-9a.
Item 16.A-16.B · Zoning
City Center Commercial Phase A, Plat 1 rezone and Lot 1 plat amendment
Approved · 5-0
Planner Steven Lehmitz presented a rezone from Commercial C-1 to Commercial Neighborhood and a plat amendment to create another commercial lot from Lot 1, with a partial screening wall to be completed and a trail easement improved. Applicant representative Ben Nielsen agreed to Commercial Neighborhood zoning or use restrictions after Wood raised concerns about community-scale uses. No one spoke at either hearing.
- Current zone to proposed: Commercial C-1 to Commercial Neighborhood
Item 18.4 · City code
Form of government ordinance, new EMMC Chapter 2.08 and mayor pro tempore rules
Tabled · 5-0
Requested by Wood and Wright, the ordinance codifies the six-member council form of government, votes in open meetings and an annual election of a mayor pro tempore. City Attorney Marcus Draper said proposed language in 2.08.030 is substantive and recommended adding legislative intent language; concerns included limits on the mayor's and staff's roles and procurement code effects. Clark asked for a redline and liaison training. The council tabled it to the Feb. 6 meeting for revisions with the city attorney.
Item 15.A · Other
Brand and marketing playbook
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Wood asked to add historical elements such as the Pony Express Trail and petroglyphs, recreation and community events. Communications Manager Tyler Maffitt said reprinting would cost under $1,000. The council approved the playbook to return after changes.
Item 9.A-9.C · Appointment
Board appointments
Approved · 5-0
The council appointed Rod Hess to the Planning Commission through December 2026, Karan Heffelfinger to the Senior Citizens Advisory Council through December 2027 and Adelle Curtis to the Library Board through December 2025, each unanimously.
Item 13.B · Budget
Fiscal 2023 audit
Approved · 5-0
Auditor Ron Stewart of Gilbert and Stewart CPAs reported budget compliance findings: spending exceeded appropriations in several funds, including $737,399 and $744,879 in the General Fund community development line, $479,166 in the transportation impact fee fund, $106,306 in the SAA 2014 debt service fund and $81,151 in the parks impact fee fund. The unrestricted general fund balance exceeded the 35 percent state limit by $2,435,228. Wood asked for a future truth-in-taxation discussion. The audit was accepted on the consent agenda.
Item 14.A, 14.D · Development
Consent plats and site plans: Quailhill Stake temporary site plan, Marketplace medical easement
Approved · 5-0
The consent agenda included a temporary site plan for the Quailhill Stake church building at 7995 N. Silver Lake Parkway and the Marketplace at Eagle Mountain Town Center medical site plan at 4317 N. Pony Express Parkway. Wright worried a retention basin in the roundabout could conflict with future widening; City Engineer Chris Trusty said the easement likely will not be needed, and the council directed staff to bring the easement vacation back.
Item 1.B · Development
Gardner Farms concept, Eagle Mountain Boulevard (work session)
Discussed
Senior Planner David Stroud and applicant representative Seth Townsend presented about 160 acres on the west side of Eagle Mountain Boulevard in ten phases: employment campus (42.21 acres), Neighborhood Residential Three (54.27), Neighborhood Residential Two (54.58) and Regional Commercial (10.02). Council members raised traffic, building commercial before residential, general plan uses such as a hospital, and the lack of transit for high density. No vote was taken.
- Acres: about 160
Item 1.C · Zoning
Citywide zoning map (work session)
Discussed
Deputy City Administrator Steve Mumford said the map groups nearly 100 zoning districts into general categories and is not a rezone; some areas such as Cedar Pass Ranch need more research. Staff will return with a revised map.
Item 10.4 · Contract
Brightview landscaping settlement
Approved · 5-0
City Attorney Draper said the city was dissatisfied with Brightview's services; the agreement settles the amount owed and lets the city hire another landscaper. The minutes give no dollar figure.
- PaymentAmount not given to Brightview
What residents said
Hotel height and parkingCedar Pass Ranch zoningResidential water rightsTraffic around Gardner Farms
A resident emailed about resolving the Cedar Pass Ranch zoning disputes and the possible financial effect of residential zoning on residents.