An application to modify apartments to single family dwellings will continue forward in Uintah County though the Commission is split. The Lone Tree Sky Park apartments, located at 1379 South 570 East, would need a variance on the road access to be acceptable. The access for apartments required a 24 foot wide access and they met requirements for apartments, explains County Planner Matt Cazier, but in changing over to townhomes, the code states that private roads need to meet the same standard as public roads, which is 36 feet wide. The water lines for the units would also have to be adjusted to get in compliance with code and additional parking space would need to be added. While Commissioners Bill Stringer and Duane Shepherd felt comfortable granting the road variance and giving permission to move forward with the concept and design phase, Commissioner Horrocks strongly opposed. “I want to make sure we are not selling off a problem to young couples getting their first home,” emphasized Horrocks more than once. “The problem I have is it’s designed for apartments, it needs to stay as apartments. I’ve been here for many years and watch couples buy these homes and then they are stuck in them…This is a product of the boom and bust and I just absolutely am against it all the way.” The representative from Lone Tree said the last thing the company wants is to sell a troubled property and that he hopes to resolve all concerns the Commission has. The motion to approve the road variance and allow for the concept and design phase was approved though opposed by Commissioner Brad Horrocks.
