Carbon planning panel favors approving subdivision projects

By Sun Advocate

The Carbon County planning board gave a favorable recommendation on two proposed subdivisions on Tuesday.
Proposals for a 12-lot subdivision near Old Wellington Road and a two-lot development two miles east of Utah Highway 10 near Feichko Lane at Stake Farm Road must be approved by county commissioners before the projects will be finalized.
In the March 6 meeting, Angelo Kiahtipes’ Circle K Construction requested that the planning board recommend approval of the Liberty Estates phase two subdivision, adjacent to more than a dozen already approved lots.
The proposed subdivision is about one-quarter of a mile north of Old Wellington Road and about the same distance east of U.S. Highway 6.
Kiahtipes has been through the planning process for other subdivisions and the county planning board found the utility requirements in order.
The developer said he has secured a written easement to connect the subdivision to existing residential developments located slightly south of the planned development project.
However, at a previous planning board meeting in February an adjacent property owner, Boyd Marsing, indicated he was concerned that storm water drainage had not been adequately addressed.
Marsing told the county planning board members that he feared storm runoff would cross a private drive near his property.
Marsing was also concerned about who would maintain an open ditch which developers planned to use to channel water away from the development project.
Since the February planning board meeting, Kiahtipes has addressed some of Marsing’s concerns.
A portion of the ditch will be piped. The remaining open ditch will be maintained by those who purchase homes in the subdivision.
In other similar subdivisions around the county, developers have included a waterway maintenance clause in the covenants, conditions and restrictions for homeowners.
In many cases, the homeowners can be required to maintain open waterways or other infrastructure.
In cases where homeowners refuse to comply, the county can perform the necessary maintenance work and place the cost for doing so as a lien against the property.
Kiahtipes explained that the revised plan creates a designated routed for water from the proposed development to the county right-of-way at Old Wellington Road.
From there, drainage can follow existing drainage routes along the county road, crossing U.S. Highway 6 and eventually draining into the Price River.
The developer added that he revised the drainage plan and deleted an already approved retention basin within the 12-lot subdivision.
With the drainage basin gone, members of the planning board wondered if the drainage plan would be adequate.
“That raises another issue because all that the water comes down that pipe, and if the south side of [Old Wellington Road] is able to carry it, it’s going to flood the next guy,” said planning board member Lynna Topolovec.
Kiahtipes pointed out that waterways are able to carry the existing runoff.
When the property was irrigated for agricultural purposes, the developer said there was more waste water runoff than would be expected from most storms.
“Retention ponds, I’m sure, serve a great purpose in the right place. But I don’t think you can blanket that policy over every development,” said the developer.
Kiahtipes continued by stating that given the size and scope of the subdivision, a retention pond is likely unnecessary.
Another concern regarding the development project related to drainage addressed what will happen to water upon arriving at the county right of way.
At least two other similar-sized drainage systems come to the county right of way at the same point.
County planning director Dave Levanger suggested that the county install a gravel or cement catch basin to take the water from the various sources and channel it into a 24-inch culvert under Old Wellington Road.
Since the issue involves multiple land owners and is within Carbon’s right of way, Commissioner Michael Milovich directed Levanger to consult with the county’s road department, address the matter in question and install what is necessary to handle the anticipated runoff.
The board gave a favorable recommendation for final approval on Liberty Estates phase two and forwarded the matter to the county commission for final approval.
In a separate matter, the board approved a two-lot subdivision without public improvements for Reed Phillips in the Stake Farm Road area of the county.
Phillips is working with another developer to purchase and subdivide a parcel of land, where he plans to both live and farm.
The board had concerns related to how the final boundary lines will be drawn between the two potential owners.
However, the final plan for those boundaries has yet to be determined.
The board recommended approval of a subdivision so Phillips could have one portion for his home and leave the rest as agricultural land.
The matter will go the county commission for final approval.