The Santaquin City Council had a lengthy discussion Tuesday on an ordinance to update and clarify city code land use definitions and the land use table in the Main Street business district zone.

The council members decided there were ultimately too many questions regarding the changes and approved tabling the item to discuss it further in a few weeks. An automotive section of the ordinance was sent back to the Planning and Zoning Commission to be revisited next month.

Before the council made their decision, Assistant City Manager Jason Bond gave background as to why code changes were necessary for the city.

“In the community development department, we get a lot of questions from people inquiring about different things they could do with property they either own or want to own,” Bond said. “We as staff, go off our code and zoning ordinance. The questions have helped us realize that our code is ambiguous because it doesn’t give me the guidance and clarification I need to answer. So, I felt like it was in the city’s best interest to do an overview of our zoning code. We decided to start in the center and work our way out.”

When looking at the draft code document, Bond said anything that is red with a line through it has been removed from the code, and anything in blue writing is being added to it. The ordinance wasn’t meant to make any big changes, but to clarify the language that was already in place, according to Bond.

Several business owners and residents attended the meeting confused and unhappy by how they interpreted the document. Many were concerned that automotive service and repair establishments were separated in major and minor categories based on differences in services offered. Several business owners felt there was no need for this distinction, and doing so would hurt businesses put into the minor category.

One resident asked what the Planning and Zoning Commission’s intent was in changing the code.

“This was mainly something that had to do with staff because, as we work with the code on a day-to-day basis — and someone comes to us wanting to do a commercial repair service, for example, when I go to the code and there’s nothing to find, I’m shooting at the hip as to what a commercial repair service is,” Bond said. “As we went through, I helped make sure we had terms defined and land uses that we know we don’t want to have in the code.

Bond added that he wasn’t trying to draw comparisons between businesses, that “I don’t think anyone would like to see a slaughterhouse on Main Street,” and specifically disallowing it in the code prevents the possibility.

Mayor Dan Olson added the purpose of changing the ordinance is to protect the town and its rights.

“Part of the reason for this clarification is for businesses who would come in and find a way to force a point and put something you wouldn’t want near your business or neighborhood and if we don’t have it clarified and well thought through, we are going to be taken advantage of,” Olson said.

The council also approved a purchase agreement of the lowest and best bid, approximately $139,000 with Bintz Restaurant Supply Co., in Salt Lake City, for new kitchen appliances and equipment for the new city hall. The city received three bids in total.

“A portion of this will be a warming kitchen and a serving center that will serve both the needs of the city and any who may rent the building,” City Manager Norm Beagley said. “This comes with everything from a walk-in fridge and freezer that are separate to a commercial dishwasher, sink setup and convention oven.”

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