City staff asked the Washington City Council on Oct. 8 to consider targeted general‑plan adjustments to make room for commercial development where market demand and corridor access make sense, and economic development staff outlined a pipeline of projects already in planning or permitting.

Community Development Director Eldon Gibb framed the discussion as a starting point: “This was just to get the fluids flowing, kind of get a temperature gauge of where council’s at,” he said, presenting maps that show existing commercial designations and two parcels where landowners have asked whether the city would welcome more commercial uses.

Gibb pointed to two areas for council consideration: property near 500 West and Merrill Road (adjacent to a Saint George retail node) and a parcel along George Washington Boulevard near SR‑7. He and council members discussed “feathering” commercial zoning so higher‑intensity uses on major corridors step down to protect adjacent residential neighborhoods. Gibb noted recent inquiries from landowners and that Washington City could expand its footprint via pending annexations of two parcels totaling about 151 acres; staff also showed that more extensive annexations could add roughly 44 square miles to the city's boundary should such opportunities proceed.

Economic Development Director Rusty Hughes summarized active projects and the city’s interactive land‑use map used by brokers and developers. He detailed near‑term activity at freeway exits: building permits and tenant improvements for hotels near Exit 10, a conditional‑use and grading permits for WinCo at Exit 12, and early marketing materials for the Washington Gateway concept at Exit 13. Developers and the consultant team reported concrete industrial activity near the airport: two RS Southwest logistics buildings of roughly 200,000 square feet each are nearly complete and a 300,000‑square‑foot building is in review; more buildings have been proposed.

Council members discussed tradeoffs. Councilman Ivey emphasized the fiscal goal behind commercial planning: increasing sales and commercial valuation to support city services without raising property taxes, and recommended protecting planned corridor commercial areas from being converted prematurely to residential. Council members also urged careful transitions where commercial edges meet established neighborhoods and asked staff to consider mid‑cycle general‑plan amendments rather than a full rewrite immediately.

Developers at the meeting said interchange work and road access will drive timing. Freeport representatives described planned ramps and an interchange that would unlock additional frontage and noted coordination with the city on water lines and road impacts. Staff said they will coordinate routing so utility work and road improvements can be synchronized with future development.

Rusty Hughes said commercial valuation now represents about 13.3% of the city’s total valuation, a figure that staff expects to rise as several large projects move into construction. No zoning amendments were adopted at the Oct. 8 workshop; staff sought council direction about where to prioritize planning effort and whether to pursue mid‑cycle general‑plan updates in targeted areas.