What Is Santa Clara Voting On Nov. 4? Quick Answer
The Santa Clara City Council meets Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to act on its first Geologic Hazards chapter (Ordinance 2026-22), new rockery and block retaining wall standards, and a parks and trails impact fee that would rise from $2,372 to $2,380. The public notice and packet put the hearings at 4 p.m.; the city's meeting page says 6 p.m.
This preview is based on the city's meeting page, hearing notice and the council packet. The ordinance, resolutions and standards are drafts until the Council votes. Items taken from the packet's unapproved draft minutes are labeled.
What Is the Geologic Hazards Ordinance?
The Planning Director's memo says Santa Clara does not currently have a geologic hazards ordinance. Chapter 15.34 would add one, and the ordinance says it is based on the Utah Geological Survey model ordinance. It follows the Sensitive Lands Overlay Zone (Chapter 17.80), which the Council adopted Oct. 14 as Ordinance 2026-19 so permanent rules would be in place before a six-month temporary land use regulation (Ordinance 2026-07) expired.
Under the draft chapter:
- The rules apply to all land in the city. Every lot of record, subdivision lot and parcel in a Geologic Hazard Study Area must have a safe buildable area with access free of unreasonable geologic hazards, and hazards must be mitigated before final plat approval.
- Study areas include landslide and slope instability, flooding and erosion, liquefaction and rockfall hazards.
- Applicants for concept plans, plats, conditional use permits or site plans in a study area, or where hazards are apparent, must submit a site-specific geologic hazard report prepared under Utah-licensed professionals.
- For parcels recorded before the ordinance takes effect that are marked for geologic hazard reasons on a plat or lie in a study area, a building permit for a new or replacement home or an addition would need statements from an engineering geologist, a geotechnical engineer (slope stability factors of safety of at least 1.5 static and 1.1 pseudostatic) and a structural engineer.
- Owners would record a disclosure notice on the property, and permit holders in a study area would sign a hold harmless agreement.
- Detached accessory buildings not designed for people are exempt, as is remodeling of an existing building that does not expand its footprint or foundation or change its use. Complete or substantial demolition and replacement must comply.
The ordinance takes effect immediately on adoption, recording and posting. The packet's draft minutes of the Oct. 14 meeting (not yet approved) describe the Sensitive Lands zone as covering land on the city's sensitive lands map, slopes over 15 percent, cuts or fills over 12 feet and stream corridors draining more than 0.15 square mile, and as replacing the Hillside Review Board with a five-member Sensitive Lands Review Board.
What Are the New Retaining Wall Standards?
Resolution 2026-21R would add Section 4.3.5, Rockery and Segmental Block Retaining Walls, to the city's Construction Design Standards. The attached draft specifications (dated Oct. 1, 2026) include:
- A single rockery or segmental block wall may be no taller than 10 feet, and the combined height of all such walls may not exceed 16 feet.
- Terraced walls must be separated by at least half the height of the taller wall, and the bench between them can slope no more than 10 horizontal to 1 vertical.
- Walls next to public streets or visible to the public must include landscaping between the walls.
- Walls must be at least 10 feet from building footings and pools, or as the International Building Code requires. No part of a wall may be in a public right-of-way or trail.
- A geotechnical engineer must monitor construction and verify in writing that the finished wall matches the engineered design.
How Much Would the Parks Impact Fee Change?
Resolution 2026-20R amends the city's parks impact fee study to reflect changes to planned trail facilities and the method used to calculate the cemetery level of service. Its exhibit lists the Parks & Trails Impact Fee maximum rising from $2,372 to $2,380, about $8, with other elements unchanged. The resolution takes effect 90 days after approval. The hearing notice itself lists no dollar amounts.
What About the 2920 Santa Clara Drive Rezone?
The Council will also consider Ordinance 2026-23 to rezone 0.23 acres at 2920 Santa Clara Drive from Historic District/R-1-10 to Historic District/Mixed Use. According to the staff report, applicant Tresa Frei proposes to remove the existing 1935 "Period Cottage" of about 1,566 square feet and build a Craftsman-style single-family home with a studio for an esthetician business.
- The Heritage Commission reviewed the project Sept. 17 and Oct. 1 and supports the design, materials and colors; the final design returns to it after the rezone.
- A demolition report says engineers saw significant deterioration in the basement foundation and floor framing on Sept. 25 and that they cannot presently be used without substantial rehabilitation.
- The site plan has five parking spaces; three are required.
- The staff report says the Planning Commission held a hearing Oct. 29 and forwarded a recommendation of approval, and that no neighbor responses had been received when the report was written.
What Else Is on the Agenda?
- An update from Intermountain Health on St. George Regional Hospital.
- An equipment bid award for the South Hills Substation project, in six separate items, for equipment in the 2028 budget year.
- Partial plat amendments for South Village at Black Desert (Lots 24 and 25, removing the shared lot line) and Santa Clara Heights Phase Y (Lots 10 and 11).
- Calendar: city offices are closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, the Nov. 11 and Nov. 25 council meetings are cancelled, and the next meeting is Dec. 9.
When and where: The meeting is at City Hall, 2603 Santa Clara Drive. The hearing notice says the hearings are at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The city's meeting page lists a 4 p.m. meeting start with public hearings at 6 p.m. Call 435-673-6712 to confirm. See our Santa Clara city guide for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Santa Clara's Geologic Hazards ordinance?
Ordinance 2026-22 would add Chapter 15.34 to city code, which the Planning Director's memo says the city does not currently have. It requires geologic hazard reports for development in study areas and is based on the Utah Geological Survey model ordinance.
How much would Santa Clara's parks impact fee change?
Resolution 2026-20R would raise the maximum Parks & Trails Impact Fee from $2,372 to $2,380, about $8, and would take effect 90 days after approval. The change reflects planned trail facilities and the cemetery level-of-service method.
How tall could retaining walls be in Santa Clara under the proposed standard?
The draft Section 4.3.5 limits a single rockery or segmental block wall to 10 feet and the combined height of all such walls to 16 feet. Terraced walls must be separated, and walls must be 10 feet from footings and pools.
What time is the Santa Clara City Council hearing on Nov. 4?
The city's hearing notice and the council packet say 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 2603 Santa Clara Drive. The city's meeting page lists a 4 p.m. meeting with public hearings at 6 p.m. Call 435-673-6712 to confirm.
Sources: Santa Clara City, "City Council Special Meeting – November 4, 2026"; Santa Clara City, "Notice of Public Hearing: Park Impact Fees, Construction Design Standards & Geologic Hazards," Oct. 24, 2026; Santa Clara City Council meeting packet, Nov. 4, 2026 (Resolutions 2026-20R and 2026-21R, Ordinances 2026-22 and 2026-23, staff memo and report)
