Public hearings attract crowd; city’s residents air concerns over density, water 

Two new Fillmore residential subdivisions moved closer to reality after city planning and zoning officials last week approved a zoning change, amendments to the community’s master street plan and one plat map, with a second map set to return in phases for approval later.

Public hearings attracted an unusually large group of citizens, few of them showing much support for the projects. A variety of concerns were aired. They ran the gamut from traffic impacts to housing density, water usage and infrastructure costs, among others. One woman even lamented how the developer was being treated on social media. 

Mark Stevenson, the applicant and a partner in the proposed developments, was there to address concerns and answer any questions from the public and the planning body. 

The public hearings were combined when it became evident all of the various issues wrapped up in the two subdivisions were likely to be confused by the public. Even planning commission members stumbled at times over all the information being addressed. 

Elise Harris, the city’s attorney, spent much time during the three-hour marathon refereeing between the public, city officials and the applicant. 

The first item up was the smaller of the two subdivisions, The Reserve at Paradise Meadows, to be built adjacent to the existing Paradise Golf Course. 

Existing zoning in the area allows for single-family  dwellings on half-acre parcels. Stevenson requested a change to R-2 zoning, which allows for smaller parcels as well as twin homes. 

Stevenson said current plans call for development of 38 lots on 12 acres. He said single-family lots would range from a third to a half-acre in size. Lots for twin homes would be about 12,000-square feet, much larger than the minimum required by city code, which is 4,500 square feet. 

The entrances to the subdivision will be built along 200 West St. and 300 West St., with bridges over Chalk Creek. The creek bed will be piped over and the infrastructure turned over to Chalk Creek Irrigation once the development is finished, Stevenson said. 

The amendment to the city’s master street plan involving the Reserve included creating a retention basin between the dead ends of future roads abutting Interstate 15, which runs along the west side of the proposed subdivision. The basin should mitigate flood concerns along Chalk Creek, Stevenson said. 

Planning commissioners eventually voted unanimously to recommend approval of the zoning change, master street plan amendment and subdivision plat map to the city council. 

Another public hearing will take place before the city council makes a final decision. 

The Ridge is the name of the second subdivision considered by planning officials. It is bounded by 500 South and 700 East near the existing Mountain View subdivision and is a more ambitious project. 

Stevenson sought a master street plan amendment—the massive development of more than 200 homes will include seven new streets—and initial approval of the subdivision map. 

Responding to public concern about the effects of such a large housing development on existing home values—they are so out of whack most old-timers simply shake their heads nowadays at the price of homes in Fillmore—Stevenson said The Ridge would be developed in phases as market demands dictate. 

“It might be four or five phases. We don’t know yet. It just depends on the market,” Stevenson told planning commissioners. 

Mike Peterson, a partner in the project, said he thinks it could take as long as 15 to 20 years to build out the entire subdivision, which includes single family homes on multiple-sized parcels as well as a townhome development next to a planned private park. 

“We’re not proposing to build it all out at once, flood the market and have houses sitting,” he said. “We’re not going to speculate. So mainly as demand comes, we’ll build it.”

Stevenson said the design of the subdivision is meant to place single-family homes along the perimeter, adjacent to existing homes of similar size, and develop the multi-family dwellings inside the middle of the community. 

Peterson said the townhomes were meant to offer affordable housing opportunities to younger couples and families—something Fillmore and much of Millard County desperately need. 

A private park is also planned adjacent to the townhome community. An original bike and walking trail network envisioned was eventually jettisoned. 

Asked by a citizen who Stevenson will use to build the various homes, the developer said he envisions them all to be custom-built to buyers’ preferences. 

“We will have a pretty good list of floor plans people can choose from,” he said. “But honestly, there is such a need for housing in this community. I know there are a lot of people who live in this community that would like to go buy a lot and build their own custom home. And so, we’ll sell lots, you can bring your own contractor in, if you want. We’re here to provide the opportunity for people to have a place to build a home.” 

Stevenson said his group will build some homes. He said he does not see modular homes going in at the development. 

Planning commissioners unanimously approved the street master plan amendment after lengthy discussion and public comment. Stevenson said he anticipated a traffic study to be ready in the future to better alert officials to any potential traffic impacts from the planned new streets. 

Stevenson asked the body to table the subdivision map, saying it would be much easier for all involved to return to the city with phases for approval at a later date. 

Another public hearing would be required once the city council takes up the approval process. 

While neither The Ridge or Reserve developments were scheduled to go before council members this week, a third project Stevenson is a partner in will. 

City council members will hold a public hearing to take comment on annexation of 53 acres at about 800 South Highway 99. A mixed-use development is planned for the site, called The Retreat. 

According to a rendering posted on Stevenson’s FillmoreHomes.com website, The Retreat will feature single-family homes, a tiny home community, apartment complexes, a townhome community, commercial lots, a hotel, retail strip mall, a park and a food truck court. 

The project has not yet come before planning officials since the land is not yet inside city limits, though approving annexation of the property was listed on Tuesday’s city council agenda after the public hearing. 

A fourth project is listed on Stevenson’s website as well. Called The Ranch, it features one to five-acre building lots for single-family homes. It was unclear where that planned development would reside. 

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