Draper commission clears two internal-ADU deviations and a home woodworking permit

Draper's Planning Commission approved two internal accessory dwelling unit deviations and a conditional use permit for a home woodworking business at its Oct. 22 meeting, and continued two other public hearing items to a date uncertain, according to the posted agenda and the Draper Herald's account of the meeting 12.

Both deviations passed 5-0 and the woodworking permit 4-0, the Draper Herald reported, citing meeting records; the city had not posted minutes of the meeting as of Tuesday 1.

The deviations were requested by Tallin and Brenda Johnson for a 0.16-acre lot at 14094 S. Candy Pull Drive, application 2026-0177-VAR, and by Cabot and Tiffani Curtis for a 0.86-acre lot at 14811 S. Maple Park Court, application 2026-0082-VAR 2.

Both properties sit inside a mapped area where internal ADUs, known as I-ADUs, are prohibited, according to the staff reports in the meeting packet 3. A deviation requires the commission to find four things under Section 9-31-055: the lot is at least 6,000 square feet; no detached ADU exists on the property; the unit meets the requirements of Sections 9-31-030 and 9-31-045; and at least two parking stalls meeting 9-31-045(B)(2) are provided for the I-ADU's occupants 3.

The city's ADU guidance says I-ADUs are generally allowed on residentially zoned properties larger than 6,000 square feet that front a public street meeting minimum street-width standards, and that some properties do not qualify on lot size, roadway width or roadway ownership 4. The reasoning behind the prohibited map was recorded in an earlier deviation case: areas were excluded because their streets were narrower than the standard, and the concern was that those neighborhoods would struggle to absorb extra on-street parking 5.

The Johnson property is Lot 330 of the South Mountain Phase 1 Subdivision, 6,970 square feet, zoned RM under the South Mountain Agreement, with a house and detached garage built in 1995 3. The unit is planned for the basement, entered from a side-yard walk-out. The plans widen the driveway to create two stalls measuring 18 by 25 feet, and the driveway's width at the property line exceeds the 30-foot maximum and must be cut back before an I-ADU permit issues, the planner wrote 3.

The Curtis property is Lot 122 of the Ridgewood Subdivision, 37,462 square feet, zoned RM under the South Mountain Development Agreement, with a house built in 2013 3. The applicant proposes an addition and a connecting hallway to create the unit on the lower floor, with a one-car garage as the tenant stall and driveway space for a second vehicle 3. Staff recommended approval of both deviations, finding each application met the criteria 3.

The woodworking permit, application 2026-0204-USE, covers 0.50 acre at 12646 S. 700 East, in the R3 zone, Lot 2 of Butler Acres, with a house built in 2006 3. The business would run inside the home and an attached third-car garage, making items such as cutting boards and chess sets, with hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday 3. The owner is the only employee, no customers come to the home, and inventory is about 200 square feet against a 250-square-foot cap, the staff report states 3. The city's hearing notice described the request as a home-based cottage business creating wood products for sale online 6.

Staff recommended approval subject to three conditions: all engineering, public works, building, planning and fire requirements are satisfied; a city business license is obtained and maintained; and no customers come to the home 3.

Two items were continued to a date uncertain: a conditional use permit for United Curbing on 0.92 acre at 12541 S. Minuteman Drive, application 2026-0133-USE, and a development agreement request from Ivory Homes for 1.67 acres at 12430 S. 700 East, a legislative item 2. The Ivory Homes request follows a July 9, 2026 rezoning of the property, the city's hearing notice states 7.

The commission also recommended a 2027 meeting schedule to the City Council. A memo from staff planner Lori Stout listed three holiday shifts: the Nov. 11 meeting moves to Nov. 4 for Veterans Day, Nov. 25 moves to Nov. 18 for Thanksgiving, and Dec. 23 moves to Dec. 16 for Christmas, the Draper Herald reported 1. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays at City Hall, 1020 E. Pioneer Road 21.