Wellsville grants conditional use permit for corn maze

By Angel Larsen

September 16, 2005 | WELLSVILLE -- With Halloween next month, the City Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a conditional use permit for Jed Clark's corn maze on the east side of Highway 89-91, south of Highway 101 and north of 200 South, with the condition of access only allowed from 200 South.

City Manager Don Hartle said he didn't know if Wellsville had a corn maze or anything like this before, other than the one at the American Heritage Arts Center.

Commissioner Loyal Green was concerned with parking on the roads. Clark said the parking would be on the sight and not on the street. He said cars would enter from 200 South and only exit onto Highway 101.

"Use is not an issue," Commissioner Russell Glen said. "It's the access and Utah Department of Transportation's stand on it."

"We've got more than one access," Clark said. "It would be easier to use the highway. In my mind the highway has a right of way for me and now you are telling me not to use it."

Commissioner Clark Leatham wondered if the commission needed to require outhouses. Clark said he was putting in some already.

"We are putting some pieces of toilet paper in the maze but not recommending people use them," Clark said.

The commission voted unanimously to approve Richard Boyce's request to renew an existing advertising sign, including electrical, on the property on the east side of U.S. 89-91 north of Toms' service after debating whether the sign had been maintained or removed. The new sign code, as of Jan. 5, states no additional advertising signs can be up except the two already in place and the existing sign can not be changed or removed but for routine maintenance, said Commissioner Richard Rawlinson.

"If Rich as the property owner realized it was gone and immediately put in a new one," Leatham said. "It can be called maintenance."

"I think it would be reasonable based on what Rich has told us to allow the sign to stay," Green said.

"We are not looking forever," Boyce said. "But to just give us a little income for the time being."

Tyron Lewis asked for permission to build a home with a walk-out basement apartment for a caretaker for his 28-year-old handicapped son. "My wife and I can't look into putting him into a nursing home," Lewis said. "He has a great personality and everyone loves him. We can be selective in who lives there."

The commission recommended changing the code allowing in all residential zones the possibility of caretakers living in a home. Hartle set a public hearing for Oct. 12 so the ordinance could be written by then.

The commission reviewed the final plats for:

--Amending the Bassett Minor Subdivision by creating one additional building lot at 523 south 200 West with the condition of having the engineer's signature on the final plat;

--Recommending City Council approval for the Highlands Subdivision on the west side of Center St. from 1450 South to 1600 South with the changes recommended by city planner, comments by the city engineer, J-U-B Engineering, and the city's decision on the open space to be on the final plat.

Other business the commission addressed:

--Recommendation to amend the zoning code's definitions part (17.50.010) to clarify the definition of buildable area.

--Discussion on enforcement of the Home Owners' Association.

--Possible revisions to the subdivision code.

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