12.210 Flag Lot Standards

(New 09/12/06; Amended 03/27/07; 09/13/16; 05/14/19) A. Definition. A flag lot is defined as a lot in a residential zoning district that does not meet the required frontage on a public street. A flag lot has two distinct parts: the flag, which contains the buildable area and is located behind another lot; and the pole, which connects the flag to the street, provides the only street frontage for the lot, and contains less than the minimum lot frontage for the zone. B. Purpose. Flag lots are intended to apply only to exceptionally deep or odd shaped parcels that are isolated from public streets and would be difficult to develop or utilize in any other way. The applicant shall demonstrate that a flag lot is the most appropriate development option and that it will not detract from the surrounding neighborhood. C. Minimum Requirements. A flag lot shall meet the following minimum requirements: 1. The pole portion of the lot shall have at least 20 feet of frontage on a dedicated public street, which frontage serves as access only to the subject lot. 2. The flag lot shall have a hard surfaced driveway from the public street to the required parking area for the flag lot with a minimum 20-foot wide drivable surface from lip of gutter to lip of gutter, per the cross section in this subsection (See Figure 5). Adequate provisions as determined by the City Engineer shall be made for drainage of the driveway such as curb and gutter, berming, swales, or underground piping. Curb and gutter shall be constructed in conformance with the Road-5 standard drawing in the Lehi City Design Standards and Public Improvements Specifications manual. Figure 5. Typical 20-foot flag lot driveway cross section includes a 20-foot wide drivable surface and appropriate drainage improvements. 3. Not more than one flag lot shall be created from an existing lot or parcel. 4. The remainder of the lot or parcel from which the flag lot is being divided shall maintain all of the required zoning standards, including frontage. 5. A flag lot cannot be created as part of a subdivision where there are more than two lots in the subdivision or from an illegally divided lot. 6. Only one single family dwelling shall be allowed on a flag lot. 7. The width of the pole of the flag lot shall be not less than 20 feet of drivable surface unless otherwise recommended by the City Engineer and Fire Marshal and approved by the Planning Commission. 8. The pole portion shall maintain the required width for its entire length and a vertical clearance of thirteen and one half feet high. 9. The single family dwelling unit shall be located within 250 feet of a fire hydrant measured along the curb line, in accordance with the City’s latest Design Standards and Public Improvement Specifications. 10. The flag portion of the lot shall meet the minimum square footage and width requirements of the applicable zone. 11. Front, rear, and side yard setback requirements of the flag portion of the lot shall be the same as required in the applicable zone. 12. The shape of a flag lot shall be approved by the Planning Commission as part of the subdivision approval. Doglegs and jagged, irregular shapes may not be acceptable. 13. The pole portion of the lot shall be part of the lot, not an access easement, and shall be designated as a public utility easement. 14. “No parking” signs may be required on the pole portion of the lot as deemed necessary by the Planning Commission. 15. The street address for the flag lot shall be clearly identified so that it is visible from the public street with either an address label on the mailbox or a separate address marker. 16. All applicable street improvements including curb, gutter, and sidewalk shall be installed along the frontage of both the flag lot and the lot or parcel from which it is being subdivided. 17. No accessory building shall be allowed on the flagpole portion of the lot. This subsection shall not be interpreted to prohibit aesthetic entry features, such as archways, decorative mailboxes, raised landscape beds, or similar structures. 18. The Planning Commission may impose additional conditions on flag lots including: (a) location and height of the dwelling; (b) compatibility of the proposed project with existing conditions; and (c) screening and landscaping. 19. When the flag lot area is less than 10,000 square feet, five feet of landscaping including evergreens or other tall shrubs that provide a visual barrier and a six-foot sight-obscuring fence shall be required along the perimeter of the flag lot to screen the flag lot from neighboring properties. D. Approval Process. The Planning Commission shall have authority to approve a flag lot as a conditional use in accordance with the requirements of this Section and Chapter 9, Conditional Uses, of this Code. Requests for a flag lot are also subject to the subdivision requirements and approval process as per Chapter 11, Development Application Requirements, of this Code.