Developers looking to build in the Snyderville Basin must now include electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle parking in their plans under a new ordinance approved by the Summit County Council last week.
The requirement, which was developed in conjunction with Utah Clean Energy, applies to all new commercial and multifamily developments. Approximately 5% of parking spaces are required to have an electronic vehicle charging station while another 5% must be EV-ready, meaning the conduit and wiring are ready for use but the charging equipment has not been installed.
An additional 10% of parking spaces are required to be EV-capable, defined as when the conduit is installed without the necessary wiring to connect to a charging station. New single-family homes built in the Snyderville Basin must also be built with an EV-capable parking space.
“Research provided by County Sustainability staff and Utah Clean Energy indicate that EV use will continue to grow, and, therefore, requiring infrastructure at the time of construction is much more economical than installing it after construction has been completed,” said a staff report on the ordinance.
There is one exemption, however.
Developers specifically working on affordable housing projects have the opportunity to ask the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission for an exception if they demonstrate that EV parking will be a “financial burden.”
The mandated number of bicycle parking spaces, meanwhile, is determined by the type of development under construction. The ordinance additionally differentiates between a short-term bicycle space, such as a traditional bike rack, and long-term bicycle space, such as a weather-protected locker.
For example, a retail store or restaurant is required to have at least two short-term spaces and one long-term space. The additional number of necessary spaces is then determined by the size of the development, with another short-term space added for every 2,000 square feet and another long-term space added for every 10,000 square feet.
In contrast, a hotel needs to have a minimum of five short-term spaces with an additional space for every 20 guest rooms. There’s a minimum requirement of four long-term spaces, with one additional space per 10 employees.
The ordinance also touches on solar power, establishing solar energy systems as an allowed use across all Snyderville Basin zoning districts and creating a set of standards for building-integrated, roof-mounted and ground-mounded solar panels.
The county code prior to the ordinance’s adoption did not include any information on solar energy systems, meaning they were prohibited by default despite the county’s goals related to sustainability and environmental stewardship, according to the staff report.
“Creation of these rules will legitimize solar structures and help prevent any issues with enforcement of the Code,” the staff report said. “Creation of the rules will enable property owners to reduce electric bills, receive tax credits and reduce pressure on the electric grid in a simple and efficient way.”
The County Council unanimously voted to adopt the ordinance.