Property owner Nash Williams asked Cottonwood Heights staff for a second-driveway exception to serve a parcel at 3396 Antler Way after he proposed purchasing an adjacent strip of land to expand his yard and build a garage and pool. Staff said the lot-line adjustment is in process and that steep topography separates the homeowner's existing driveway from the parcel he proposes to buy.

Staff presented aerial photos and plans showing significant grading differences and existing failing retaining walls, including an old railroad-tie wall. Staff said the applicant is working with geotechnical engineers and offered that the parcel being purchased is roughly 7,300 square feet. The city's driveway standard permits only one access for a single-family dwelling, but allows exceptions where unusual topographic conditions exist; staff recommended the council consider whether the slope and other conditions justify a second access.

Council members and staff repeatedly flagged geotechnical and sensitive-lands concerns. Staff and council agreed that engineered retaining solutions and geotechnical clearance are prerequisites for safely building a driveway and garage on the parcel. Several council members suggested sequencing or conditioning any approval so that the city does not authorize a curb cut until the lot-line adjustment is complete and geotechnical and building-permit requirements for the proposed garage have been satisfied. Staff reported the applicant has already spent significant money on engineering studies and said he is seeking early certainty that a driveway will be permitted before investing further.

Staff also noted some procedural items for the record: notices were mailed to nearby homeowners; the city typically posts signs for such applications but in this case mailed notice met the legal requirement.

Next steps: staff will continue to review the driveway application, the lot-line adjustment, and the applicant's geotechnical reports. Council members signaled support for allowing a second driveway only if the applicant demonstrates engineered, code-compliant mitigation of slope and retaining-wall hazards and if the driveway cut is tied to permit issuance or completion of the lot-line adjustment to avoid stranded work.