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Brighton City Zoning Code

19.16 LAND

USE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES

19.16.010 PURPOSE

The purpose of this chapter is to delineate the procedures, requirements and approval standards that apply to land use and zoning applications and approvals.

19.16.015 TABLE OF LAND USE DECISION PROCESSES

This table is an illustrative summary of the administrative and legislative decision processes in Title 19.  If there are any inconsistencies between this table and the other provisions of this Title, the other provisions of the Title govern.

REFERENCE TABLE: APPLICATIONS & APPROVALSZONING TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTSPERMITTED
USE
CONDITIONAL
USE
VARIANCESSPECIAL EXCEPTIONS
APPLICATION INITIATIONProperty owner, person authorized in writing by the property owner, Council or Planning StaffProperty owner or a person authorized in writing by the property ownerProperty owner or a person authorized in writing by the property ownerProperty owner or a person authorized in writing by the property ownerProperty owner or a person authorized in writing by the property owner
NOTICE (1)In accordance with
Utah Code 10-9a
Not requiredRequired (1)Required (1)Required (1)
RECOMMENDATIONPlanning Commission, public inputPublic agency reviewPublic agency reviewPublic agency reviewPublic agency review
FINAL DECISIONCouncilDirector or designeePlanning CommissionLand Use Hearing OfficerLand Use Hearing Officer, or Director (dependent on application type)
APPEAL BODY3rd District CourtLand Use Hearing OfficerLand Use Hearing Officer3rd District Court3rd District Court

TABLE 19.16-1: FOOTNOTES

(1) Courtesy Notices shall be mailed ten (10) days prior to the meeting to property owners within three hundred feet (300’) of the subject property’s boundary.

19.16.020 GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

The Director is the administrator of the Zoning Ordinance with power to review and make decisions on zoning ordinance interpretations. The authority and responsibility of the Director shall include the following:

  1. Review of Development Plans. The Director shall establish development plan review processes to ensure that proposed land uses and development plans comply with the provisions of this Ordinance and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare. At the discretion of the Director or Designee, review of permit or license applications may be conducted without submittal of a land use application if compliance can be ascertained based on the permit or license application documents.
  2. Interpretation of Permitted and Conditional Uses – Administrative Determination. The Director shall determine whether proposed uses of property are consistent with the permitted and conditional uses within each zone. The procedure to request the Director’s determination shall be as follows:
    1. Written Request. A written request for a determination shall be filed with the Director or Designee, which shall include a detailed description of the proposed use and such other information as the Director may require.
    2. Investigation. The Director shall undertake such investigations as deemed necessary to compare the proposed use with those uses specifically listed in this Title, and to make a determination of the proper classification.
    3. Determination. Within 30 days of the filing of a written request, the Director shall prepare a written determination, which shall be provided to the applicant. The determination shall state the zone classification in which the proposed use will be permitted as well as the basis for finding that such use is of the same character as uses allowed in that zone classification. The determination and all information related thereto shall become a permanent public record in the office of the Director.
    4. Effect. The use as specified in the determination of the Director shall thereafter become a permitted or conditional use in the class of zoning district specified in the determination, and shall have the same status as a permitted or conditional use specifically named in the regulations for the zone classification.
    5. Appeal. The Director’s determination may be appealed to the Land Use Hearing Officer. Such appeal shall be filed in writing within 10 days after written notification to the applicant of the Director’s determination.

19.16.030 LAND USE APPLICATIONS

  1. Pre-Application. At any time prior to or during the Completeness Review process outlined below, a pre-application meeting may be requested by the applicant or Director or Designee to discuss the application, plans, and anticipated review process, However, such pre-application meeting does not result in vesting of the pre-application or the application. In order to facilitate efficiency of review process, the Director or Designee may invite representatives from other reviewing agencies as well as the applicant’s design professionals to the meeting.
  2. Applications. A property owner, or other person expressly authorized in writing by the property owner, may file for a land use permit. All land use applications for permitted or conditional uses shall be filed with the Director or Designee. Applications shall contain:
    1. An application form provided by Planning and Development Services which form may be via online submitting software.
    2. Property identification documents such as a legal description, plat map, and if applicable, site survey. This is not required for text amendments.
    3. A title report of the property from within 6 months of the application.
    4. Plans and other documents as necessary to evaluate the proposed application for compliance with applicable codes, including a site plan (see Subsection 19.16.030.C), building elevations, preliminary landscape and amenities plans, preliminary grading/drainage plan, and any other pertinent documents.
    5. Applications are subject to the Completeness Review process outlined in 19.16.030.D. An application is considered as having been accepted only when deemed a complete application and the applicable application fees have been paid. The payment of a partial fee and preliminary plans for a pre-submittal review does not constitute a complete application.
  3. Plans.
    1. Site Plan. A detailed site plan is required as part of all applications for land use or development approval, including conditional uses, permitted uses, variances, special exceptions, site development plans for the Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone, and building permits. The Director may specify the number of plans required and the medium (electronic, paper, etc.) in which site plans may be submitted. The site plan shall show:
      1. Scale;
      2. Direction of North point;
      3. Lot lines and adjacent streets, roads and rights-of-way;
      4. Location of all existing structures on subject property and adjoining properties, completely dimensioned, including utility lines, poles, etc;
      5. Location and building elevations of any proposed construction and improvements, including the location of all signs;
      6. Vehicle access, including circulation patterns and the location of individual parking stalls, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks or trails;
      7. Any necessary explanatory notes, including calculations of lot coverage, parking ratios, gross floor area of buildings, easements, floodplains, topography, rights of way and other notes necessary to evaluate for compliance with all applicable land use requirements;
      8. Areas for snow storage;
      9. Name, address and telephone number of builder and owner, and;
      10. Any other information required by the Director or indicated on the application form.
    2. Building Elevations. Building elevations, when required, shall show:
      1. Note of scale used;
      2. Orientation of each elevation, including distance to nearest property line;
      3. Explanatory notes describing building, cladding and trim materials;
      4. Original and finished grade at all points along each elevation of the building;
      5. A building envelope that describes that maximum buildable height of all elevations as measured from original grade;
      6. Finished floor elevations of all levels of a building including, but not limited to, basements, garages, patios, and decks;
      7. Top of footing elevations at each corner of the building;
      8. Total height of building, as measured from original ground surface to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof, or to the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the highest point of pitched or hipped roofs, or gambrel roofs;
      9. Necessary explanatory notes to address any requirements particular to the zone in which the property is located, and;
      10. All other information that may be required, as determined by the Director.
    3. Preliminary Landscape or Reclamation Plan. Preliminary landscape or reclamation plans, when required, shall show:
      1. Note of scale used, north arrow and preparation date;
      2. Project name and address;
      3. General reclamation of area intent statement including the general character and location of proposed reclamation of the land and open areas;
      4. A legend showing all plant types and sizes, symbols, line types, hatching and abbreviations used in the plan set;
      5. Site boundary, property lines, and any construction phasing lines;
      6. All existing significant vegetation, including an indication of what is proposed to be removed;
      7. All existing and proposed structures;
      8. All proposed softscape and hardscape areas;
      9. A tabulation of the total project area, reclaimed area, impervious areas, building coverage areas and building coverage percentage;
      10. Detailed landscape improvements with planting symbols clearly drawn to indicate each plant, and;
      11. The name and contact information of the landscape design professional who prepared the plan.
    4. Other plans and documents. Other plans and documents may be required in order to verify compliance with this Title or other applicable codes, ordinances, statutes and regulations.
  4. Completeness Review for a complete application.
    1. Upon receipt of an application request and associated documents, the Director or Designee shall review the application to determine whether:
      1. Complete and accurate plans have been submitted;
      2. The application itself contains complete information regarding the property, applicant, proposed land use;
      3. Evidence that all prerequisite conditions for the specific land use have been addressed, and;
      4. The property owner or authorized agent has authorized the submittal of the application.
    2. If the application is determined to be incomplete, the Director or Designee shall notify the applicant by mailing a written notice in writing within thirty (30) days:
      1. That the application is incomplete, and;
      2. The specific components of the application deemed insufficient.
      3. If this notice is not timely mailed, the application shall be considered complete, for the purposes of further substantive land use authority review.
    3. Upon notice being given, an application deemed incomplete shall be terminated after 60 days if the necessary components to complete the application have not been submitted.
    4. The applicant may raise and resolve in a single appeal any determination made under this Subsection to Land Use Hearing Officer, including an allegation that a reasonable period of time has elapsed under Subsection 2.
    5. If the application is determined to be complete, the Director or Designee shall authorize the payment of the applicable application fees.
  5. Application Review. The application review process may include:
    1. The creation of a planning file for reference by the applicant, Staff and the public.
    2. An on-site review by the Director or Designee as allowed in Utah Code § 10-9a-303.
    3. Review of the submitted site plan and elevations for compliance with this Ordinance.
    4. Referral of the application and site plans to those government agencies and development review agency authorized to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and to ensure the project's compliance with this Ordinance and all other applicable ordinances and codes.
    5. Referral of the application for conditional uses to the appropriate decision-making body as set forth in section 19.16.040.
    6. An action letter informing the applicant as to whether the application has been approved, approved with conditions, denied, or tabled pending the submittal of additional information or amended plans. An application requiring submittal of additional information or amended plans shall be terminated after 60 days if the necessary components to complete the application have not been submitted, unless an extension is granted by the Director in writing.

19.16.035 ALLOWED OR PERMITTED USES

  1. Initiation. A property owner, or other person expressly authorized in writing by the property owner, must file a complete application, as required in 19.16.030 (D).
  2. Determination. On any application to construct a building or other improvement to property which is defined by this Code as an Allowed or Permitted Use in the Zone in which the Building is proposed, the Director or Designee must review the Application to determine whether the proposal:
    1. Is an Allowed Use within the zone for which it is proposed;
    2. Complies with all applicable Development requirements of that zone, including Building Height, Front, Side, and Rear Setbacks, and Lot coverage;
    3. Respects Lot Lines of a Legal Lot;
    4. Meets the applicable parking requirements;
    5. Can be adequately serviced by roads, and existing or proposed utility systems or lines;
    6. Pertains to land in which all tax assessments have been paid, and;
    7. The plans shall be reviewed for Building Code compliance and permit issuance procedures. Approval of Allowed Uses must be noted by the issuance of a Building Permit in compliance with the provisions of the International Building Code, as adopted by the Town of Brighton.
  3. If the Application does not comply with the requirements of the zone, the Director or designee shall notify the Owner of the project or the Owner's Agent, if any, stating specifically what requirements of the zone have not been satisfied.
  4. DISCLAIMER. No permit issued shall be valid if any of the criteria listed in this section have not been met.

19.16.040 CONDITIONAL USES

  1. Requirement. A conditional use permit shall be required for all uses listed as conditional uses in Title 19.
  2. Initiation.
    1. A property owner, or other person expressly authorized in writing by the property owner, may file for a conditional use permit for that property. In addition to the request for land use approval, a conditional use application may include a request for land development plan approval.
    2. The Planning Commission is the land use authority and shall take formal action on requests for conditional use permits. When a land development plan is submitted in conjunction with a conditional use application, the land development plan shall be included in the materials presented to the Planning Commission. In rendering an approval, conditions of approval may be imposed by the Planning Commission that necessitate changes to the land development plan.
    3. As administrator of the zoning ordinance, the director is responsible to ensure the land development plan not only complies with the applicable codes and ordinances, but also complies to the conditions of approval imposed by the Planning Commission. If, during the course of land development plan review, the director finds changes are made to the site plan not in harmony with the conditions imposed by the Planning Commission, the Director may, at their discretion, refer the land development plan to the Planning Commission for review.
  3. Land Use Approval.
    1. Approval Process.
      1. The Planning Commission shall consider applications for a conditional use permit in a public meeting and shall make a decision on the proposed conditional use, evaluating the application in accordance with the standards in subsection D below.
      2. MAILED NOTICE. Courtesy notice shall be mailed ten (10) days prior to the public meeting to adjacent and surrounding Property Owners within three hundred feet (300’) of the subject property’s boundary. The Property Owner or agent must provide the Planning Department with an electronic list of each Property Owner of record of each Parcel located entirely or partly within three hundred feet (300’) of the subject property’s boundary. The addresses for neighboring Property Owners must be as shown on the most recently available Salt Lake County tax assessment rolls. Any defect in such courtesy mailed notice shall not affect or invalidate any hearing or action by the Planning Commission on the Conditional Use Permit. 
      3. The Planning Commission shall take action in the form of approval, modified approval or denial on applications for conditional uses. Unless otherwise designated, a decision by the Planning Commission approving a conditional use application authorizes the director to proceed with approval of the land development plan.
      4. Failure by the applicant to provide information that has been requested by the Planning Commission or the Director to resolve conflicts with the standards in Subsection D may result in an application being denied.
      5. The Director, under authority of the Planning Commission, shall grant final approval of conditional use permit applications after all of the conditions and requirements of the preliminary approval have been met. Applications with a land development plan element shall not receive final conditional use approval until the land development plan has been approved by the director. As a condition of preliminary approval, the Planning Commission may require that final land development plan be brought before the Planning Commission for final approval.
      6. Final approval of a conditional use permit application is in the form of a letter to the applicant, which, together with the approved land development plan if required, constitutes the conditional use permit. Final approval shall not modify or invalidate any of the conditions or terms imposed by the Planning Commission.
    2. Approval Standards. The Planning Commission shall review the site plan and other information submitted to evaluate the impacts of the proposed conditional use. The Planning Commission may impose conditions to mitigate the reasonably anticipated detrimental impacts of the proposed use. A conditional use permit shall be approved unless the imposition of conditions cannot mitigate reasonably anticipated detrimental effects as stated in Utah Code 10-9a-507.
  4. Rules for Approved Conditional Uses. The following general rules apply to all approved conditional uses:
    1. Approval of a conditional use authorizes only the particular use for which the conditional use is issued.
    2. No use authorized by a conditional use may be enlarged, extended or relocated, unless an application is made for approval of a new conditional use in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section.
    3. Development of the property shall not commence until the applicant has secured all the permits and approvals required by municipal ordinances and any permits required by regional, state, and federal agencies.
  5. Expiration and Extension of Time.
    1. A conditional use expires 12 months from the date of final approval by the Director, unless a building permit is obtained within such period and substantial construction is started or the use is commenced within such period in compliance with all required conditions and this Ordinance.
    2. One 12-month extension may be granted upon the payment of an additional filing fee equal to the original filing fee. Such an extension shall be filed before the end of the initial 12-month period.
  6. Revocation of Conditional Use.
    1. The Planning Commission may revoke a conditional use permit upon a finding of failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the original approval or for any violation of this Ordinance or other applicable law.
    2. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing prior to taking action on revocation. Notice of the hearing and the grounds for consideration of revocation shall be mailed to the permittee and affected entities at least 10 days prior to the hearing.
  7. Appeals. Appeals may be made to the Land Use Hearing Officer within 10 days of the date of the decision of the Planning Commission.

19.16.050 WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION

  1. An applicant may withdraw an application at any time prior to the final decision on the application, including any time during which the application has been tabled.
  2. An applicant may request a refund of fees at the time the application is withdrawn. The Director shall consider the amount of work performed by Staff on the application when determining whether or to what extent fees may be refunded. Fees associated with a public meeting or hearing shall not be refunded if the item is heard at a public meeting or hearing.
  3. A notice of withdrawal of an application and a request for refund of fees shall be in writing and submitted to the Director.

19.16.060 PERFORMANCE BONDS

  1. Any required improvements such as curb, gutter and sidewalk (or pedestrian paths), fences, and landscaping shall be satisfactorily installed prior to the Town of Brighton authorizing electrical service or, if no electrical service is required, prior to issuance of any occupancy permit.
  2. In lieu of completing such improvements, the developer may file a cash or surety bond, escrow agreement, or letter of credit with the Planning and Development Services Director, in an amount sufficient to ensure completion of improvements within one year.
    1. Ten percent (10%) of a bond amount for public improvements shall extend for a one-year period beyond the date the improvements are completed to guarantee replacement of any defective public improvements.
    2. Ten percent (10%) of a bond amount for live plants shall extend for a one-year period beyond the date of planting to guarantee replacement of diseased or dead plants.
    3. Upon completion of the improvements for which a bond or escrow agreement has been filed, the developer may call for inspections of the improvements by the Director.
  3. Whenever necessary in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of Town residents from traffic, flood, drainage or other hazards, the Land Use Authority may require as part of bond approval that improvements be completed in a specified sequence and in less than one year. Such requirements shall be incorporated into the bond.
  4. Bonds will be processed and released in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 18.24.170 of the Municipal Code.
  5. When the developer is a school district, Town of Brighton, service area, special-purpose district or other political subdivision of the State, the Mayor may waive the bond and accept in lieu thereof a letter from the governing body guaranteeing installation of the improvements. Before approving any such waiver, the Mayor shall receive a recommendation from the Director.

19.16.070 OCCUPANCY PERMITS

  1. A permit of occupancy is required prior to the occupancy of any building hereafter erected, enlarged or structurally altered, or where any vacant land is hereafter proposed to be occupied or used for anything other than permitted agricultural uses.
  2. The permit of occupancy shall be issued by the Chief Building Official and the Director if the use and/or building or premises conforms to the provisions of this Title and related ordinances.
  3. A permit of occupancy shall be required whenever the character or use of any building or land is proposed to be changed from one use to another use.
  4. Upon written request from the owner, a permit of occupancy shall also be issued covering any lawful use of a building or premises existing on the effective date of this Ordinance, including nonconforming buildings and uses. 

19.16.080 ZONING TEXT, LAND USE REGULATION AND MAP AMENDMENTS

  1. Initiation. A zoning text, land use regulation, or map amendment may be initiated the Council, the Planning Commission, the Director, a property owner(s) in the Town of Brighton, or a person authorized in writing by the property owner(s).
  2. Authority.  The Council shall take formal action on requests for zoning text, land use regulation, or map amendments after receiving a recommendation from the Planning Commission.
  3. Procedure.
    1. Filing of Application.
      1. All zoning map or text amendment applications shall be filed with the Director or Designee in accordance with this Chapter. The Director or Designee shall forward the application to the Planning Commission for further review and recommendation after the date the application is deemed complete.
      2. Disapproval of an application to amend the zoning map shall preclude the filing of another application to amend the zoning map to reclassify the same parcel of property, or any portion thereof to the same zone classification, or if the application is for a commercial classification to the same or any other commercial classification, within one year of the date of the final disapproval of the application unless the council finds that there has been a substantial change in the circumstances or sufficient new evidence since the disapproval of the application to merit consideration of a second application within the one-year time period.
    2. Notice. The Director or designee shall provide notice of proposed zoning text or map amendments in accordance with Utah Code §10-9a-205.  An “adjacent property owner” under this section of State law is an owner of property located within three hundred feet (300’) of land that is directly affected by the land use ordinance change.
    3. Action by Planning Commission.
      1. The Planning Commission shall consider a proposed zoning text or map amendment in a public hearing.
      2. After the close of the public hearing, the Planning Commission may evaluate the application against the applicable considerations in subsection D below and shall make a recommendation to the Council for approval, modified approval, or denial.
    4. Action by Council.
      1. After considering the recommendation of the Planning Commission at a public meeting, the Council may approve, deny, alter, or remand for further review and consideration any application.
  4. Approval Considerations. Table 19.16-2: Guidelines for Zoning Map and Text Amendments. The Planning Commission recommendation and the Council decision on any zoning text or map amendment are matters of legislative discretion. In making a recommendation and decision, the Planning Commission and the Council, respectively, may consider one or more of the factors in Table 19.16-2 below.

    Table 19.16-2: GUIDELINES for CONSIDERING Zoning MAP & TEXT Amendments
    FACTORSMAP AMENDMENTSTEXT AMENDMENTS/ LAND USE REGULATIONS
    1. The proposed amendment is compatible with the Adopted General Plan.XX
    2. The proposed amendment promotes the public health, safety and welfare.XX
    3. The proposed amendment is a more suitable zoning classification for the property than the current classification.X
    4. The proposed amendment is compatible with the intent and general purposes of this Ordinance.XX
    5. The proposed amendment corrects an error or omission, adds clarification to existing requirements, or reflects a change in policy.

    X

    X
    6. The proposed amendment benefits the citizens of the Town of Brighton as a whole.XX
    7. The proposed amendment does not create a significant number of nonconformities.XX
    8. The proposed amendment is compatible with the trend of development, if any, in the general area of the property in question.X
  5. Appeals. Any person adversely affected by a zoning amendment decision of the Council may appeal the decision to the 3rd District Court of Salt Lake County as provided for in § 10-9a-801 of the Utah Code, as amended.