Jun 24, 2025
City of Holladay Planning Commission Meeting — June 24, 2025
Meeting Overview
Meeting Type: Planning Commission Meeting (includes Work Session and Regular Meeting with Public Hearing)
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Location: City Council Chambers, 4580 South 2300 East, Holladay, Utah
Work Session Called to Order: 5:30 PM (by Vice-Chair Karianne Prince, in the absence of Chair Roach)
Regular Meeting Called to Order: Approximately 6:00 PM
Adjourned: Approximately 6:15 PM
Quorum/Attendees:
Commission Members Present: Karianne Prince (Vice-Chair), Ginger Vilchinsky, Angela Gong, Paul Cunningham
Absent: Chair Roach (name only; no first name recorded)
City Staff: Carrie Marsh (City Planner), Brad Christopherson (City Attorney)
Minutes Secretary: Teri Forbes, T Forbes Group
Minutes Approved: January 6, 2026
Key Topics Discussed
Highland Park PUD background: Original approval in 2022; 11-unit townhome development at 4880 South Highland Circle in the R-M Zone; previously approved tree removals limited to trees within building and road footprints
Proposed Site Plan Amendment: Applicant Alec Moffitt (Sequoia Development) seeking approval to remove additional trees outside the original approval footprint, on the west and north sides of the property
Tree health and condition: Discussion of trees that have died or are in decline due to lack of irrigation after the home was razed and water meters removed; Arborist report from Diamond Tree Experts assessed all on-site trees
Tree Canopy Sustainability Ordinance: Requirement of 1-for-1 caliper-based replacement; proposed replacement plan exceeds original canopy (replacing ~9,000 sq. ft. of existing canopy with ~11,000 sq. ft.)
Willow tree (Tree #2): Previously designated for preservation by the Commission; applicant seeking conditional permission to remove if necessary; not shown on current Landscaping Plan
Lot coverage standards: R-M Zone allows 60% lot coverage (buildings and roads); requires 40% landscaping (not including tree canopy)
Drainage and privacy concerns: Raised via email by a nearby resident; Ms. Marsh confirmed drainage is managed by engineering and all runoff must be retained on-site; privacy addressed through new tree plantings
Future policy consideration: Commissioner Cunningham raised the issue of requiring developers to continue watering trees during construction delays
Decisions Made
Decision 1 — Approval of Site Plan Amendment, Highland Park PUD
Findings:
Conditions:
Votes
| Motion | Made By | Seconded By | Outcome | Individual Votes |
| Approve Site Plan Amendment — Highland Park PUD | Commissioner Vilchinsky | Commissioner Gong | Passed Unanimously | Cunningham — Yes; Vilchinsky — Yes; Gong — Yes; Prince — Yes |
| Adjourn | Commissioner Cunningham | Commissioner Vilchinsky | Passed Unanimously | Unanimous consent (no individual votes recorded) |
Action Items
| Action | Responsible Party |
| Address drainage and privacy questions directly with the nearby resident who submitted email comments | Carrie Marsh, City Planner |
| Make every effort to preserve Trees #2, 4, and 5 on the back end of the property | Applicant (Alec Moffitt / Sequoia Development) |
| Plant replacement trees as shown in the Landscaping Plan; bring significant deviations back to the Planning Commission for approval | Applicant (Alec Moffitt / Sequoia Development) |
| Consider future policy/ordinance requiring developers to continue watering trees on-site during construction delays | Planning Commission (raised by Commissioner Cunningham; no formal action taken) |
| Property maintenance in interim before construction begins (unsightly conditions noted by public commenter) | Developer / Sequoia Development (noted in public comment; no formal condition assigned) |
Other Notable Items
Public Comments:
Joseph Amici (4828 South Highland Circle #303) — Neighbor to the north; expressed support for the proposed changes and the expediting of construction. Noted the property is currently unsightly, with a pile of dirt, garbage, and abandoned traffic cones, and requested the developer maintain the site in the interim.
Kevin Ludlow (Sequoia Development, 1955 South 1300 East, Suite 104) — Identified himself as a City of Holladay resident; cited prior development projects in the city (Bandits Restaurant, Powder House Ski Shop, brownstone residential); thanked the Commission.
Email comment submitted by a nearby resident (identity not recorded in minutes) regarding tree removal plans, perimeter trees, and drainage; entered into the record.
Tree Irrigation Issue: Applicant acknowledged that after razing the home and removing water meters approximately two years ago, no irrigation reached the trees. A rise in interest rates halted the project, leading to significant decline in tree health. Commissioners noted this could have been prevented and expressed concern about the developer's lack of foresight.
Arborist Affiliation Note: Ms. Marsh confirmed it is standard protocol for an arborist to be affiliated with a tree removal company; the assessment was conducted by Diamond Tree Experts.
Landscaping Plan Not Distributed in Advance: The Landscaping Plan was presented at the meeting but had not been provided to Commissioners prior to the meeting for advance review.
Chair Absent: Chair Roach was absent; Vice-Chair Karianne Prince presided over both the Work Session and Regular Meeting.