Citizen Cites Unacceptable Code Violations

To: Springdale Town Council and Town Clerk From: Clifford Subject: Request for Revocation of Business License – Red Cliffs Lodge Date: October 13, 2025

Dear Town Council, Town Clerk, Mayor and Police Dept,

I am writing to formally request that the Town of Springdale initiate proceedings under Springdale Town Code §3-1-12 to revoke the business license of Red Cliffs Lodge, located at 792 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767. Based on substantial, ongoing, and well-documented violations of Town ordinances and public welfare standards, this business has repeatedly failed to operate in accordance with local, state, and federal law.

Under §3-1-12, a business license may be revoked or denied renewal if a licensee:

• Has violated laws or ordinances governing the operation of the business;
• Has allowed or is responsible for unlawful activities conducted or permitted on the premises;
• Conducts business in a manner that creates a nuisance or otherwise violates any local, state, or federal law.

Grounds for Revocation

1. Repeated Lighting Ordinance Violations (Town Code §10-15C)

Red Cliffs Lodge installed more than one hundred high-intensity light fixtures that do not comply with Springdale’s Outdoor Lighting Ordinance. The canopy lights emit excessive lumens, creating glare, light trespass, and night-sky pollution visible across nearby residences. Despite multiple notifications and recommendations from the Town inspector to install compliant shielding (“skirts” or “shades”), the business has failed to correct these violations.

2. Improper Use of Shipping Containers Without Active Construction Permit (Town Code §10-4)

Multiple shipping containers—some up to forty feet in length—remain openly stored on the property without an active construction permit. Town Code allows such containers only during active construction. These structures are unsightly, obstruct public views, and have contributed to rodent and pest infestations. This violation began at the time of purchase and subsequently escalated, growing to seven containers for a period and later revealing visibly damaged bedding and construction materials.

3. Unscreened Trash and Sanitation Violations (Town Code §10-4)

The Lodge's trash enclosures are habitually left open, exposing waste such as bedding and construction debris. These unsanitary conditions, with bins left uncovered for weeks, have led to rodent and insect infestations, posing significant public health and fire hazards.

4. Noise and Illegal Lodging in Parked Buses (Town Code §10-13F)

Red Cliffs Lodge is permitting luxury buses to park on-site, operating generators throughout the night, which results in excessive noise and exhaust. This practice includes allowing guests to sleep in these buses, an activity that is both unlicensed and unpermitted under Town zoning regulations. When this issue was brought to the attention of management, I was informed that the Police had approved this arrangement for five nights, with generators running continuously, and management declined to resolve the situation.

5. Obstruction of Sidewalks and Public Right-of-Way (Town Code Title 10; Ordinance 2025-15)

A tenant business operating on the Lodge’s premises has been permitted to conduct commercial activities—including bicycle training and rentals—on public sidewalks and grassy areas, blocking pedestrian access and creating safety and liability concerns. Furthermore, the business operates a bar and grill with seating directly adjacent to the public sidewalk, lacking any barrier between the two.

Under Title 10 (Land Use and Zoning), businesses must confine operations to their approved commercial premises and may not use public rights-of-way or landscaped setbacks for private commerce.

Additionally, Ordinance 2025-15, amending Title 3, prohibits unpermitted commercial activity or deliveries within the public right-of-way. These activities constitute an ongoing encroachment and violate both the zoning and business license provisions requiring compliance with Town development codes.

6. Fire Hazard Conditions in Employee Housing (Town Code §10-4; Fire Code Enforcement Authority §4-3)

Reports indicate that employee housing areas on the property contain unsafe and unsanitary conditions—including discarded bedding, accumulated trash, and overgrown vegetation—that pose a potential fire hazard. Such conditions violate the Town’s nuisance and safety standards under §10-4, which prohibits the maintenance of unsafe or hazardous conditions, and fall within the enforcement authority of §4-3 (Code Enforcement).

7. Misrepresentation and Non-Cooperation with Town Officials (Town Code §3-1-12)

Over a period of several months, Red Cliffs Lodge management has repeatedly misrepresented corrective actions to Town officials and neighboring business owners. Despite assurances that violations would be remedied, no meaningful action has occurred. Under §3-1-12, misrepresentation and failure to comply with the conditions or requirements of the Town Code constitute valid grounds for business license revocation.

Request for Action

In light of the ongoing violations and disregard for Town ordinances, I respectfully request that the Town of Springdale:

• Commence an investigation into the above-referenced violations;
• Issue a formal notice of revocation of the Red Cliffs Lodge business license under Town Code §3-1-12; and
• Suspend the business license pending corrective compliance, to protect public welfare and preserve the integrity of the Town’s code enforcement standards.

Failure to take enforcement action risks signaling that the Town’s ordinances are optional and that continued noncompliance carries no consequence. Consistent enforcement upholds fairness among business owners and preserves the character, safety, and aesthetic integrity of the Springdale community.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Respectfully submitted, Clifford