When the Utah State Legislature approved Senate Bill 174 in 2023, Utah State Code changed and gave cities the size of Kaysville until Feb. 1, 2024 to come into compliance on enacting a new process for subdivision review and approval. The City Council recently approved a new concept for residents to provide public comment on preliminary subdivision plat applications. Signage will be placed at the proposed subdivision location that includes a QR code that will take visitors to the specific subdivision information on the city website. 

If not using the QR code, the website also includes an interactive map to determine the name of the subdivision of interest. It will reflect “Current Subdivision Applications under Review” as well as brief summary information on that subdivision and a link for the proposed plat found below the map. There is also applicable land use regulations, a complete list of standards required for the project, preliminary and final application checklists, relative information, maps, and reports. Finally, there is a comment form to select the appropriate subdivision from the drop-down menu and submit your comments.

Subdivisions are permitted by law as defined by the established zoning district. The subdivision process includes a technical review of the proposed subdivision plat and construction plans to ensure existing laws and standards are met. The city is legally bound by Utah State Code 10-9a-604.1(8) to approve a subdivision when the application is in compliance with City ordinances and standards.

Utah State Code allows just 15 business days for a municipality to review and respond to a preliminary subdivision application. The City will be accepting comments for an approximate 10-day period within this 15-day allowance. At the end of the public comment period and 15-business day review cycle, the city will compile comments from all parties and submit the comment package to the subdivision applicant.The City intends to post the same information on the webpage so residents, Planning Commission, and the City Council can review the comments.

All comments are welcome, however, Utah State Code 10-9a-604.2(5) Subdivisions, dictates that a subdivision applicant is only required to respond to comments which show their plans to be deficient or not in compliance with federal laws, state laws, or city codes and standards. The city encourages comments to be related to those standards and codes, but will pass along all comments received to the subdivision applicant.

The public can still sign up to speak during City Council meetings and that process for public comment and call to the public will not change. The Planning Commission will still seek comments from the public when public hearings are scheduled.

“As far as we know, Kaysville is the first city in the state to create the QR process for public comment specific to proposed subdivisions,” Mayor Tamara Tran said.