Blanding streamlines subdivision approvals

by David Boyle
News Director
On January 14, the Blanding City Council passed a resolution updating the subdivision ordinance.
City Manager Trent Herring explained the ordinance is required as part of a state law change that went into effect at the end of 2024.
The law is intended to streamline subdivision applications. As a result, the city now has just 30-days to approve or reject applications.
Other updates will give the planning commission land use authority for approval of subdivisions rather than the city council.
Another update will include an implementation of a technical review committee made up of city staff department heads to help prepare applications for consideration by the planning commission. The hope is that the plan will speed up and simplify the application process for landowners.
In addition to establishing the technical review committee, the council also approved an update that allows the committee to make approvals if the planning commission is unable to meet within the 30-day application window.
The committee also essentially replaces the board of adjustment, which staff added is a board that meets very infrequently to hear appeals.
Other changes are being implemented to encourage development. Among them changing minor subdivisions from being a three lot limit to a 1.5 acre limit, which could be up to six lots depending on the zoning of the property.
Members of the council also approved a zone change request from R1 to R2 for a property owned by Josh Meyer at 8th South 300 West. Residential 1 zoned areas allow for less dense housing, while the R2 zone allows for multi-family dwellings, including apartment complexes. Meyer’s plan at the time of the zone request is smaller in scale.
The change will allow Meyer to build an additional home on his property, the lot is adjacent to other R2 zoned lots.
During public hearing, one neighbor said they had initial concerns on the change but said they were all right with the change once he learned the plan was to build just one additional house as of right now.
The Blanding City Council also discussed utility discounts for deployed military members and graffiti at the Fourth Reservoir bathroom at their latest meeting.
The City council also briefly heard that the city is looking into its policy offering a discount on utilities for deployed military members while they are stationed away.
Members of the council voiced general informal support for the project with staff planning to bring the item back for further discussion.
Council also discussed items at the city airport. Council approved a tie-down fee policy for the airport as well as a resolution for a runway end identifier lights.
The project will replace lights at the ends of the runways with funds coming largely from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the State of Utah.
Council also discussed a truck agreement with the city Fixed Base Operator to use the city-owned truck to aid in fueling. The truck is old with poor gas mileage but the city believes it would be useful at the airport. Council tabled a resolution on the truck to make sure options to surplus or lease the truck were in compliance with state law.
The council also discussed the possibility of selling local products at the visitor center. The conversation was spurred by a request that the city sell CBD products from Bears Ears Farms. Members of the council informally expressed support for an idea, but needed additional information and preparation before making a decision.
Council also received a report on graffiti at the bathroom located at Fourth Reservoir. Herring said the city is asking for help online and offering a reward with an option to provide tips anonymously.
In other news, Economic Development Director Ben Muhlestein said that the city received $172,000 for a feasibility study to explore a gas pipeline from the city to service Energy Fuels.
Muhlestein said if all goes well with securing funding, the expansion could begin in the next few years.