[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6460854,"mediaKeyId","5826726-c789ee4cf53e4daac08b70f1e2115a8c","parentId",5826726,"title","Virgin council approves rezoning along SR‑9 with development agreement limiting commercial frontage to 400 feet","audioSeconds",3275,"startMs",4149000,"endMs",7424000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826726-c789ee4cf53e4daac08b70f1e2115a8c&start=4149&end=7424","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826726-c789ee4cf53e4daac08b70f1e2115a8c/thumbnail_4149000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6460854/Virgin/Washington-County/Utah/Virgin-council-approves-rezoning-along-SR9-with-development-agreement-limiting-commercial-frontage-to-400-feet","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460854-fb0766055ff2808e7e0a6bf7511fd218/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614057&Signature=nv0vbq2QpyhQ56DBlI3PRvGrQuuI~PXgbxA1oCEX56jOcv3JVNrG87yLcwfWOnX6Nq30nEfr~R-ZrIq8HNBxU2UDACB7X9RR9pVfwiWV5abyoQDzRsh1IIj0b-nV19vrwTJDVh69K64EirQyCgjtgbWy9ye3sAwiuaiDfED-BrHbfZzF5aEydQ~hjxXDj03k11cGz45XOW4B8IqAWpjbo31lqUuPWhWPq7bNZNl5YcyrCl-lIDV8AtO1jX-WAU7Bsxr8mdQUoLkJFPDYsNrqC9NblCidvBxp~E7N2duhoQKi72e~y9WZMIaSeE0EiZMBZD8ESNnRuV8Cvch8z3DV2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virgin","date","2025-09-25T19:41:31.387Z","article","The Virgin Town Council voted on Sept. 16 to rezone a parcel fronting State Route 9 (parcel referenced in the hearing as B‑22‑1‑21‑226) from rural residential to commercial, subject to a recorded development agreement that restricts commercial development to the first 400 feet measured from the SR‑9 right‑of‑way. Council members also agreed that any proposed uses for the portion of the parcel behind that 400‑foot strip would require a subsequent development agreement, public hearings and planning commission review.

Why it matters: The parcel sits at an entrance corridor and council members said the rezoning could create smaller commercial pads for local businesses. Opponents and nearby residents argued the change would reduce the towns remaining rural residential land, create potential land‑use conflicts with adjacent homes and worsen pressure on housing affordability.

What the council decided: The motion approved rezoning the identified parcel to commercial with a recorded development agreement limiting commercial uses to the first 400 feet from SR‑9; council members agreed the back portion of the lot would be subject to a second development agreement if the owner seeks different uses there. The development agreement language was to be negotiated with the applicant and recorded against the property so restrictions would run with the land.

Key points from the hearing: Town planning staff and the planning commission reviewed the application and returned it to the commission for additional public input after questions about applicability of a recently adopted ordinance on commercial depth. The towns attorney and staff advised the council that court precedent and land‑use practice give councils wide discretion on legislative actions like zone changes and that development agreements can be used to impose recorded restrictions binding on future owners.

Speakers and positions: Jared Bates, the applicants engineer, told the council the applicants preferred not to repeat a lengthy application process and supported getting the 400‑foot frontage rezoned now while negotiating protections for adjacent residential areas later. Several council members and members of the public urged careful transition standards and protections for existing homeowners; others argued the town needs more commercial land to broaden the local tax base and allow businesses such as a grocery store to locate in town.

Votes and procedure: The motion to approve the rezoning with a development agreement limiting commercial use to the first 400 feet passed in a recorded council roll (members recorded on the transcript as: Jean — yes; Misty — yes; Valerie — yes; Paul — no; April — no). The council instructed staff and the applicant to draft the development agreement for signature and recording; the council also discussed whether the first development agreement required another council review before recording and directed staff to produce draft language.

Implementation notes: Council members said the recorded development agreement will run with the land and bind future owners. Any future change to the uses on the back portion of the parcel will require a second development agreement, planning commission public hearing and council approval. Town staff and the applicant will draft the first development agreement, and the council asked staff to return with final language for recordation.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council 9 -16 -25","oneSentenceSummary","The Virgin Town Council voted Sept. 16 to rezone a parcel fronting State Route 9 from rural residential to commercial, subject to a recorded development agreement that limits commercial uses to the first 400 feet from the SR‑9 right‑of‑way.","taxTitle","Virgin , Washington County, Utah","taxId",7486,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6460859,"Virgin adopts SR‑9 corridor management plan; council backs county underpass grant push",1771,2041000,3812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826726-c789ee4cf53e4daac08b70f1e2115a8c&start=2041&end=3812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826726-c789ee4cf53e4daac08b70f1e2115a8c/thumbnail_2041000.jpg","/articles/6460859/Virgin/Washington-County/Utah/Virgin-adopts-SR9-corridor-management-plan-council-backs-county-underpass-grant-push","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460859-6dcc1196975541974da1d5254d055ae9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614057&Signature=npzAvnxMpOQuBp6AXfPu2r7g48PZwI1kUMJRHUzgqqwhnbcUItnw6IPrblYeUTlgeAfNqjubU316WL~89U7MbC96O4Pd8PKx1VVWX3uYXCLF1d3QuY0Gyu2hnDVA2spA6E43XoIBOP1aPfP28ut4R4xq8oK~oxh9UO-Q-KNVfHgJw1fhu1pAa48POgfEbwwnERHMcG-MlggxrmT72yMWYakQlmebulLEBquQDbMSuGTSB3jHf4o0FCn8P7tAP8P7f6wPsifM7sc3ouMUlf-4lc~IukQLZAB6CwfhIWJJkXOgkeYDuclYOKfyN8jHTrk-Nxkp-Pg2AIDHYolC24dKAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Virgins town council on Sept. 16 adopted a corridor management plan for State Route 9 and agreed to back a Washington County funding request for three pedestrian underpasses on Sheepridge Road, actions proponents said will help manage tourism near Zion National Park and improve safety for recreation users.

The plan, presented by consultant Wanda Maloney, is a voluntary, nonregulatory framework intended to guide management and visitor experience improvements along the SR‑9 corridor over the next five to 10 years and to position the route for an All‑American Road designation. \"The plan is is voluntary. It's non regulatory. It doesn't impose anything,\" Maloney told the council during a slide presentation.

Why it matters: SR‑9 is already a state‑designated scenic byway and part of the corridor has federal recognition. Town officials said adopting the plan will let Virgin participate in coordinated marketing, signage and stewardship efforts and strengthen future grant applications. Council members also discussed using the plan to steer visitor flow away from overcrowded spots and toward underserved local businesses.

Details from the presentation and public comment: Maloney walked the council through the plans chapters, which cover resource inventories, visitor experience, roadway safety, stewardship and an action plan. She said the plan was prepared with input from communities along the route and outside consultants and that it can be used to seek funding but does not itself create regulatory requirements. She identified partners and consultants involved in drafting the plan and said it has already been adopted by other entities along the route.

Leslie Fomber, representing Greater Zion (the Washington County convention and tourism office), presented proposals tied to Sheepridge Road improvements and asked the council to sign a letter of support for a county grant application to the states outdoor recreation funding program. Fomber described a near‑term county road realignment that will straighten some curves on Sheepridge Road, noted the county intends to pave sections and said some utility work may occur at the same time. She asked the town to back Washington Countys request for funds to build three pedestrian underpasses that would be constructed with the road project or built concurrently to lower the cost and disturbance of retrofitting them later.

Fomber cited trail and road usage data: counters at two trailheads on the Sheepridge network recorded \"86,000 plus counts\" in nine months in 2024 at two trailheads combined, and other counters along Sheepridge recorded \"over 305,000\" vehicle counts on the road during a comparable period, figures she used to argue for safety improvements and off‑road trail connections.

Council action and next steps: The council voted to adopt a resolution supporting the corridor management plan (the resolution and plan will also be forwarded to the state as part of the designation process). Council members also authorized sending a letter of support to Washington County for the underpass funding request and directed staff to work with county representatives on next steps. Staff said the town sponsored the UDOT planning grant that paid for the corridor plan and that the grant funds and consultant invoices were drawn from the towns PTIF account.

Public comment and council discussion touched on whether the plan can be used to obtain grant funding, what types of infrastructure (for example, pullouts and interpretive signage) might be eligible, and how Sheepridge improvements could be coordinated with future paved trail construction. Maloney and county representatives said the plan is intended to help communities apply for state and federal funds when available, but that specific funding streams and amounts are not guaranteed.

Whats next: The plan adoption will be forwarded to the state, and county staff said they will pursue outdoor recreation funds for the underpasses; the town will provide a letter of support and work with the county and the Greater Zion office as the project advances.

","The Virgin Town Council voted to adopt a corridor management plan for State Route 9 and agreed to support Washington County’s application for funding to build three pedestrian underpasses on Sheepridge (Sheep Bridge) Road, citing safety and visitor‑management goals tied to the scenic byway effort.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6460851,"Public hearing held on proposed fire station site swap; no final decision",280,3112000,3392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5826726-c789ee4cf53e4daac08b70f1e2115a8c&start=3112&end=3392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5826726-c789ee4cf53e4daac08b70f1e2115a8c/thumbnail_3112000.jpg","/articles/6460851/Virgin/Washington-County/Utah/Public-hearing-held-on-proposed-fire-station-site-swap-no-final-decision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460851-3e7a64b80ea05abb5c50260a48ef9aa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614057&Signature=QCDLcndu3AFR5X3FN0CgtCngulefZsZMxr-z1eftClqdHlBofM6VlZ94K~jOjG~3dyywLHXVfjDMEgh34mBjxs9dk06UPz4gwNoEHHde8IX163vBwX-Kubg0EUg5YP~cEVwZZdWiQ3ojTpZ3YhNnhyoObDKutUMnGslV86O3qwkCUhVulzacHFtZoFwj56Zb7CnSZi71Qzb93-W6t~aBjh2Xgw6XDA~r7i4V7wL6QVT7J172V9sCyScbNLTwBQ4saSTsdRKfEZOCq39vAHavEDUGa9R0BVHEoNXK3-O8sGksfVL526N79RwlGJ92XVM-GZ~fb8VEyoWh6XhN6z3KNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Virgins council held a public hearing Sept. 16 to gather input on a proposed land swap that would give the town a larger parcel for a new fire station. The swap would trade a small, town‑owned parcel on the highway for a 2.8‑acre property offered by a private owner that would provide room for a station, staging and some town uses.

Deputy Chief Nick Wright said the department envisions a residential station of roughly 6,000 square feet, with space for an EMS unit in addition to fire apparatus. The council heard questions about whether the town would retain some portion of the donated parcel for municipal uses; the mayor and council said the front portion of the property would likely be dedicated to the fire district while the back acre or so could be used for other town purposes.

No final vote was taken at the meeting; the public hearing was opened for comment, members of the public asked clarifying questions and the hearing was then closed. Council members said the proposal would be considered further in subsequent business and coordination with the fire district.

","The council opened and closed a public hearing on a proposed property swap to secure a larger site for a new Virgin fire station. The fire district described a planned 6,000 square‑foot residential fire/EMS station; council heard public input and took no final action at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Virgin council approves rezoning along SR‑9 with development agreement limiting commercial frontage to 400 feet

Virgin adopts SR‑9 corridor management plan; council backs county underpass grant push

Public hearing held on proposed fire station site swap; no final decision