Powell City Councilman opposes smaller corner lots

POWELL — A proposal that would allow smaller corner lots in new developments generally won the support of the Powell City Council last week. The proposed change could result in more — and potentially more —  affordable houses being fit into new subdivisions.

One builder predicts his homes on the smaller corner lots would be about $15,000 cheaper than those on regularly-sized parcels.

At a Sept. 2 meeting, the council passed the revised ordinance on the first of three readings, with Councilman Tim Sapp casting the lone dissenting vote. Sapp later told the Tribune he’s concerned about increasing density and doesn’t believe the change is necessary. 

Lots within the City of Powell generally must be at least 6,000 square feet. 

However, the city’s “affordable small lot exception” allows some corner and reverse corner lots to be split into parcels as small as 3,500 square feet. 

The exception does come with several conditions: Not only must the lot be vacant and zoned general residential (R-G), it also must be within Powell’s original townsite. (The rationale for that limitation is that houses are generally smaller in the older section of town.) 

However, the proposed ordinance would remove the “original townsite” requirement and allow the smaller corner lots across the general residential zone. 

There aren’t very many existing properties that would be impacted by the change, said City Building Official Ben Hubbard.

“What it’s going to affect is future development,” Hubbard said. “That’s the reality, because that’s where the vacant land is ...” 

Erik Petersen, of Petersen Construction, spurred the discussion, as he would like to have smaller corner lots in his planned Peak View Subdivision on the city’s southern edge. In an April conversation with the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Petersen said it’s a way to make housing a little more affordable.

The planning commission unanimously recommended that the city expand the small lot exception to all of R-G zoning. 

But Sapp — who also opposed the original exception within the original townsite years ago — remains unpersuaded. 

If every new subdivision begins splitting its corner lots, “you add a lot of density to those,” Sapp said. “And you can’t tell me that they’re going to sell that house at a price that would be considered low-income housing.” 

While the homes might be less expensive, those just starting out on low incomes still can’t afford them, Sapp said. 

In a separate interview last week, Petersen agreed houses aren’t very affordable right now, as labor costs, material prices and interest rates are all high. 

However, Petersen said the houses he intends to build on 4,000 to 4,400 square foot lots will be the lowest-priced in Powell. They’re not going to be affordable in the way that houses were before the Covid pandemic, he said, “but they’re going to be more affordable than a house on a 6,000 [square] foot lot.” 

The ordinance must pass two more readings before it can become law.

This story was published on Sept. 9, 2025.