Draper planners to weigh residential units in the 136 Center commercial district

DRAPER — The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Draper City Hall, 1020 E. Pioneer Road, on a text amendment to the 136 Center Commercial Special District for property at approximately 13697 S. 200 W. 12

The notice, dated Oct. 29 and attested by City Recorder Nicole Smedley, gives the purpose only as amending DCMC 9-18-010, Article L, the 136 Center Commercial Special District 1. The staff report supplies the request: to permit residential uses and residential development standards in the district, on 3.46 acres in the CSD-136C zone, on the application of John Bankhead, representing AREP III DD Land Owner, LLC, under application 2024-0397-TA 2.

**What the amendment would add**

- Permitted uses: condominium and townhouse dwelling units 2. - Density: a minimum of 75 units, or 21.6 units per acre, and a maximum of 90 units, or 24 units per acre, within the proposed residential area 2. - Height: a maximum of four stories and 50 feet 2. - Setbacks: 5 feet from property lines and 30 feet from another residential building 2. - Open space: a 15 percent minimum, with the district's own definitions of what counts 2. - Parking: two stalls per dwelling unit and one stall for every four units of guest parking, with visitor parking allowed to be shared with office parking, and automated parking structures of up to two levels permitted 2. - Design: at least two exterior materials, a minimum of six color schemes across the community, and a requirement that sidewalks or striped crosswalks connect the residential development to a primary access point on 200 West 2.

Staff raises interpretive problems in the draft. With only two residential unit types proposed as permitted uses, "it is unclear if the intent of the proposal is that each residential development includes a minimum of three (3) different floor plans, or a minimum of three (3) different architectural façades," the report states. The walkway standard requires a four-foot sidewalk or striped crosswalk across drive aisles "with no indication provided as to what these sidewalks or crosswalks are intended to connect to." And the rename of Exhibits to Figures "has not been fully reflected throughout the chapter," with clerical updates to follow in the ordinance presented to the City Council 2.

**A long-running application**

The 136 Center CSD zone was adopted by the city in 2016. In 2018 a text amendment to allow multi-family residential as a permitted use was "denied at that time by the City Council," the report states 2. The city posted a notice of hearing on this application for May 22, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. 3. The commission took the item up on Oct. 8, 2026, and continued it to a date uncertain, this paper reported 4. It returns Nov. 12 1.

**Staff's split view**

Staff wrote that the proposal "introduces a novel approach to increase housing stock while also minimizing acres of vacant parking lots," and agreed that it supplies urban infill: the property is "sparsely developed and has massive areas of unused blacktop parking areas with no shade," which staff describes as an urban heat island effect and urban blight 2.

Staff "does not entirely agree," however, that the amendment would promote high quality housing with safe and desirable neighborhoods, or serve people at different life stages and income levels. Its stated concern is that the change "would allow for the creation of an isolated residential area with few to no connections to other residential areas or typical residential amenities." The report states there are no pedestrian connections between the 136 Center development and the other side of Bangerter Highway or across I-15, that regular bus and transit service is "approximately two (2) miles away by the most likely path of pedestrian travel," and that access to most services would require a car trip underneath the Bangerter Highway overpass onto 600 W. or across I-15 2.

Staff recommends a positive recommendation to the City Council, based on the applicant meeting the criteria for consideration and on the infill, blight and heat island findings 2.

**What happens next**

A text amendment is a legislative item: the commission recommends and the City Council decides, under DCMC 9-5-060(E)(2) as the report sets it out 2. The notice names Nick Whittaker of the Planning Division as staff contact, at (801) 576-6522 1.