Community Development Department

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1 TOOELE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 23, 2013 Place: Tooele City Hall Council Chambers 90 North Main Street, Tooele Utah Commission Members Present: Matt Robinson, Chair John Curwen Phil Montano Melanie Hammer Steve Dale Tom Poyner Sheldon Birch Commission Member Excused: Chris Sloan City Employees Present: Rachelle Custer, City Planner Matt Johnson, Assistant City Attorney Paul Hansen, City Engineer Jim Bolser, Community Development and Public Works Director Councilman Brad Pratt Councilwoman Winn Minutes prepared by Elisa Jenkins Chairman Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 1. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Montano. 2. Roll Call John Curwen, Present Matt Robinson, Present Phil Montano, Present Chris Sloan, Excused Steve Dale, Present Melanie Hammer, Present Sheldon Birch, Present Tom Poyner, Present 1 P age Planning Commission 01/23/2013

2 3. Public Hearing and Motion on conditional use permit for Questar Gas to install a natural gas pipeline inspection end facility at 446 South 1230 East. Presented by Rachelle Custer Ms. Custer said that Questar Gas has purchased a lot in the Loma Vista subdivision to site a natural gas pipeline inspection end facility. Public and Private Utility Transmission Lines and Facilities require a conditional use permit in all residential zones. She said that Questar will fence it and landscape the street scape. Staff recommends that one of the conditions be to have screened fencing around the property. She stated that the City did notify all property owners within a 200 ft. radius of the public hearing. There is also a representative from Quester in attendance if there are any questions. Chairman Robinson stated that this is a public hearing if anyone would like to come forward and address the Commission. Rich Hellstrom with Quester Gas Company addressed the Commission. Mr. Hellstrom stated that is an end facility, it is a valve that will sit on the property. He said that due to federal regulations they are required every 7 years to do an inspection on their pipelines. He said that with new technology they put these end facilities in and they use a smart tool that detects any problems in the pipeline. He stated that every 7 years they will have some trucks on the site for about two to three weeks to do the inspection. They have proposed a screened fence. He also said that they will work with the staff and the HOA on landscaping. He noted that there is a small frontage and there are no utilities that will be brought into the site. Commissioner Curwen asked if there are pressure relief valves on this site. Mr. Hellstrom said that there is a blow off valve, if they ever need to purge the line. There are a couple of small valves that are used when they insert the smart tool. Commissioner Dale asked if this is similar to a pig launcher. Mr. Hellstrom said that the smart tool is sometimes referred to as the smart pig. Commissioner Dale asked if the tool has a camera on it. Mr. Hellstrom said that the smart tool does not use a camera it uses GPS and computerized signals in the pipeline. Commissioner Dale asked what they are proposing to put around the lot. Mr. Hellstrom said they are proposing an 8 ft. decorative concrete panel wall. 2 P age Planning Commission 01/23/2013

3 Matt Burdine, 417 S 1230 E, Tooele addressed the Commission. Mr. Burdine said that he lives across the street from this lot and he just built his home. He would like to see this somewhere else. He doesn t feel that it should be in a residential neighborhood. Commissioner Curwen asked Ms. Custer about the 8 ft. fence. Ms. Custer said that it is the Commission s job to find out what adverse impacts this use may have on the residential neighbors and impose conditions to mitigate them if they can. Mr. Hellstrom stated that they do have some end facilities with 6 ft. fences but most neighborhoods have requested 8 ft. fences. It will depend on what the City and HOA requires. They will try to protect the neighborhood. Commission Curwen noted that residents cannot put in an 8 ft. fence. Ms. Custer said that residents can put in an 8 ft. fence with engineering. They would require that of Questar as well. She said in this area a 6 ft. fence is standard, and that is what they would encourage. She also stated that they are also required to have a 25 ft. setback, just like a normal home. That 25 ft. is open and the Commission could require trees or some beautification screening if they want to. Commissioner Dale noted that along Droubay Road on the map there is an existing fence and then it shows the new proposed fence. He asked what the existing fence is. Mr. Hellstrom said that the existing fence is a 6 ft. vinyl fence. He said it depends on what is required of them as to what they will put in. He also said that there is a discrepancy of what their surveyor says is the property line and where the fence is along the road. They will have to work that out with the City before the installation. They will want to blend the two fences somehow. Commissioner Dale asked what kind of fence is around the existing block valve site. Mr. Hellstrom said that the smaller site has chain link and there is some vinyl on the west side. Commissioner Dale asked if the sites have to be connected. Mr. Hellstrom said no. He said that they may approach the developer or property owner to see if they want the smaller site. Questar does not need this site any more. He said that this natural gas line services this valley and serves the homes in the area and that it is essential that it is in a residential neighborhood. Commissioner Birch asked why Questar chose this lot. Mr. Hellstrom said that this is the intersection of two pipelines. They looked at different sites but could not get them and then looked at what vacant property was available. 3 P age Planning Commission 01/23/2013

4 Commissioner Dale asked if the fence will be a solid concrete wall. Mr. Hellstrom said yes. It will be concrete and they will color it. There are different designs and patterns that they can choose from. They will work with the City and the HOA as to what will be required. They want something sturdy and with little maintenance. Commissioner Dale asked if the new valve site will stay but the other site will go away. Mr. Hellstrom said yes. He said that the above ground items will be taken out and it will be vacant. Commissioner Poyner asked Mr. Burdine if there is anything the Commission could do to make it easier for him to have this end facility across the street. Mr. Burdine said he does not want to see this in a residential neighborhood. He would like to see it somewhere where there are no homes. He would not have built his home in this location if he would have known this would be built across the street. Commissioner Birch asked Mr. Burdine if there was anything that would help make a difference. Mr. Burdine said no. Mr. Hellstrom noted that this would leave an open lot and keep the view open. They would also be willing to work with the resident on the fence. Chairman Robinson closed the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. Commissioner Dale moved to approve the conditional use permit for Questar Gas to install a natural gas pipeline inspection end facility at 446 South 1230 East with the following conditions: 1) Site must be landscaped and include a screening fence at the appropriate 25 ft. setback that is required. The minimum 6 ft. concrete panel wall to be placed around the perimeter of the site. The property line survey discrepancies be resolved. The difference between the 6 ft. and 8 ft. fence to be determined by the HOA and City staff. Commissioner Montano seconded the motion. The vote was as follows: Commissioner Curwen, Aye, Commissioner Montano, Aye, Commissioner Hammer, Aye, Commissioner Dale, Aye, Commissioner Poyner, Aye, Commissioner Birch, Aye, and Chairman Robinson, Aye. 4. Review and Approval of Planning Commission minutes from meeting held January 9, P age Planning Commission 01/23/2013

5 Commissioner Hammer moved to approve the minutes for January 9, 2013 as presented. Commissioner Dale seconded the motion. The vote was as follows: Commissioner Curwen, Aye, Commissioner Montano, Aye, Commissioner Hammer, Aye, Commissioner Dale, Aye, Commissioner Poyner, Aye, Commissioner Birch, Aye, and Chairman Robinson, Aye. 5. Adjourn Commissioner Robinson moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Curwen seconded the motion. The vote was as follows: Commissioner Curwen, Aye, Commissioner Montano, Aye, Commissioner Hammer, Aye, Commissioner Dale, Aye, Commissioner Poyner, Aye, Commissioner Birch, Aye, and Chairman Robinson, Aye.The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. The content of the minutes is not intended, nor are they submitted, as a verbatim transcription of the meeting. These minutes are a brief overview of what occurred at the meeting. Approved this 13 th day of February 2013 Chairman Matt Robinson 5 P age Planning Commission 01/23/2013