What Is Hurricane Voting On Nov. 5? Quick Answer
The Hurricane City Council meets Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 147 N 870 W, with a 5 p.m. pre-meeting and a 6 p.m. call to order. The agenda includes a federal grant agreement tied to buying the 83-acre parcel with the "H" on Hurricane Hill for about $800,000, a plan to sell the current police station, a 2,700-acre General Plan change along State Route 7 and another round on short-term rental enforcement.
This preview is based on the agenda and staff packet Hurricane posted to the Utah Public Notice Website on Nov. 4, including the draft minutes of the Oct. 15 meeting. None of these items has been voted on yet.
Is Hurricane Buying the "H" Hill?
According to the staff memo from Arthur LeBaron, the city won a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to buy the 83-acre parcel that includes the "H" on Hurricane Hill. Anticipating the grant, the city signed a purchase agreement for approximately $800,000, and the grant covers 50% of the cost. The council's vote is on the grant agreement with the State of Utah.
The city attorney's short list of what Hurricane would be agreeing to:
- The property is deed-restricted and may be used only for public outdoor recreation, in perpetuity.
- The city must get permission from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation before building any facilities, structures, roads or trails.
- All utility lines must be underground.
- The city must maintain roads and structures, keep a separate ledger showing how the federal money is used, and meet reporting and accounting requirements.
The memo says the closing deadline in the purchase contract is December 1, "so time is of the essence." The city attorney had no objections, and staff recommends approval.
What Is the 2,700-Acre SR-7 General Plan Change?
Property owner Lorin Lowe asks the council to redesignate about 2,700 acres along State Route 7, between SR-9 and 3000 South, as "Planned Community" (File No. GPA26-02). The land now carries a patchwork of designations: Planned Community, General Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Light Industrial/Business, Rural Residential and Natural Open Space. Staff recommends that the west bench of Sullivan's Knoll keep its Natural Open Space designation.
Planning Director Gary Cupp's report stresses what the change would not do: it does not rezone the land, approve the owner's master plan, set densities or authorize any use. Zone changes and plats would still need their own approvals. The sticking point is light industry. The council designated part of the corridor Light Industrial/Business in the 2021 General Plan and reaffirmed it in 2024. The applicant argues the land's views and visibility make it a poor fit for large-scale industry and proposes spreading light industrial uses through a future community instead.
The Planning Commission held a hearing on Sept. 24, received no public comments and recommended approval 5–2; Paul Farthing and Michelle Smith voted no, citing the chance that light industrial uses would never happen. Staff says the property "will likely take decades to develop" and finds the amendment acceptable.
Is Hurricane Selling the Police Station?
That is the plan. City Manager Kaden DeMille writes that the city intends to sell the current police station complex as part of the financing plan for the new station. Meeting as the Municipal Building Authority, the council holds a hearing and then considers Resolution 2026-36, declaring five parcels on the west side of 700 West, between State Street and 150 South, surplus property.
According to the Oct. 15 minutes, state law requires a 45-day notice period before closing, so the council agreed to let staff advertise the sale early, and the sale would include a lease letting the city stay in the building until the new station is complete. The packet does not name a buyer or a price.
The same night brings the hearings on up to $27 million in lease revenue bonds for the police station and city hall and on the Series 2027 electric revenue bonds, covered in our report on Hurricane's bond plans. DeMille writes there is "no intention of raising property taxes, or taxes in general, or increase in any rates" to repay them.
What About Short-Term Rental Enforcement?
Mayor Clark Fawcett returns to vacation rental compliance, asking the council "whether anything needs to be changed or removed." The Oct. 15 minutes lay out how the rules work now and where the discussion started:
- A vacation rental license is revoked after three strikes, and the revocation can be appealed to a hearing officer. Strikes reset each year.
- If police respond but issue no citation, it does not count as a strike; the owner gets a courtesy letter.
- Fawcett said owners are responsible for their renters, but he does not want a neighbor to be able to force out a rental simply by opposing it. He also called for a reliable tracking system.
- Council members leaned toward allowing street parking while still requiring off-street spaces, and toward giving officers discretion on citations.
Fawcett noted that any ordinance change would have to go through the Planning Commission first. St. George's council takes up its own rental rules the same evening; see St. George's owner-occupied short-term rental proposal.
What Else Is on the Agenda?
- 1100 West reimbursements: Rock Hollow built the realigned 1100 West in its first phase. Its reimbursable share is $378,777.85; road impact fee vouchers worth $3,898 each cover $214,390 for its 55 lots, and staff proposes paying the remaining $164,387.85 from the Roads Impact Fee fund. Benchlake Townhomes would get $247,310.23 in vouchers.
- Kachina Ridge: a public hearing and vote on the 57-lot preliminary plat and Sensitive Lands exception at 720 E Highway 59. The packet shows the Planning Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 22 to recommend approval and urged a barrier between the cliff face and the homes. Background: our Kachina Ridge report.
- Christmas fireworks: a presentation by Justin Osmond on a "Red, White, & Green Christmas Firework Spectacular." The agenda summary gives no date or details.
- Recognitions: a Citizen Life Saver Award for Heather and Jaymon Hall, and Intermountain Health's annual update.
How Can I Attend or Comment?
The meeting is in the City Council Chambers, 147 N 870 W. Anyone who wants to speak in the public forum must sign in with the city recorder by 6 p.m.; comments are limited to three minutes per person per item. The agenda also lists a Webex link (meeting number 2630 456 5376). Questions go to the city at 435-635-2811. For more Hurricane coverage, see our Hurricane city guide.
What Is Not Yet Known?
- Whether the council approves the LWCF agreement, and what, if anything, the city plans to build on the H Hill land.
- Who will buy the police station complex, and for how much.
- How the council votes on the SR-7 amendment and on Kachina Ridge.
- Whether the council directs staff to draft short-term rental changes.
We will update this report once the city posts the meeting's outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hurricane buying the H on Hurricane Hill?
The city has a purchase agreement for the 83-acre parcel that includes the H, at about $800,000. A Land and Water Conservation Fund grant covers half. The council considers the grant agreement on Nov. 5, 2026; the purchase must close by Dec. 1.
What restrictions come with the H Hill grant?
The land would be deed-restricted to public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. Hurricane would need the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation's permission before building facilities, roads or trails, and all utility lines must be underground.
Is Hurricane selling the police station?
The city plans to sell the current police station complex on the west side of 700 West to help pay for the new station. The Oct. 15 minutes say the sale would include a lease so police can stay until the new building is finished.
What is the SR-7 General Plan amendment in Hurricane?
An owner asks to redesignate about 2,700 acres along State Route 7, between SR-9 and 3000 South, as Planned Community. It does not rezone the land or approve a master plan. The Planning Commission recommended approval 5-2.
What time is the Hurricane City Council meeting on Nov. 5?
The pre-meeting starts at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at 147 N 870 W. Anyone speaking in the public forum must sign in with the recorder by 6 p.m.
Sources: Hurricane City Council agenda, Nov. 5, 2026 (Utah Public Notice Website); Hurricane City Council packet, Nov. 5, 2026, including staff memos and draft Oct. 15 minutes
