Planning commission unanimously approves Mountain Grove Estates preliminary plat on Mountain Road

The North Ogden City Planning Commission voted unanimously Jan. 15 to approve the preliminary plat for Mountain Grove Estates, a three‑lot subdivision proposed for approximately 2540 North Mountain Road.

Staff recommended conditional approval after engineering and technical review. Ryan Santoro, a city planner, told commissioners the plat meets R‑1 (12.5) zoning standards for lot size and frontage but requires a dedication of right‑of‑way so Mountain Road will meet the city’s full 80‑foot right‑of‑way standard. “Staff does recommend approval,” Santoro said, listing conditions tied to the city engineer’s memo and the technical review committee comments.

The recommendation includes several specific conditions: dedication of the required Mountain Road right‑of‑way; construction of curb and a 6‑foot sidewalk as part of the trail system; removal of a small concrete pond that straddles property lines; removal or modification of accessory structures (including a lean‑to on a garage) so they meet setback requirements; and a note on the plat requiring a 6‑foot fence along the easterly boundary to be installed prior to certificate of occupancy. Santoro told commissioners that staff and the city engineer are comfortable approving the plat as long as the action will not increase existing nonconformities.

Santoro described an existing home on the site that will be nonconforming after the right‑of‑way dedication, noting the house would be “about 7 feet from the property line” to the back of the proposed sidewalk. He said the city would allow the home to remain in its current location but would not permit enlargement that increases the nonconformity; the city offered a calamity‑rebuild letter so the house could be rebuilt in the same footprint if destroyed by fire or similar calamity.

Applicant Richard Dally addressed the commission and confirmed the pond is empty and that he intends to remove the pond and the lean‑to on the garage if those are conditions of approval. “If you want me to remove it, I’ll remove it,” Dally said. He also thanked staff for assistance through the subdivision process.

Commissioner Cody Nancarrow moved to approve the preliminary plat subject to the conditions in the engineer’s report, the TRC memo and the staff report; Commissioner Bailey seconded. The roll call vote recorded six yes votes and one absence (Commissioner Thomas): Commissioner Watson — yes; Commissioner Bailey — yes; Commissioner Webb — yes; Commissioner Green — yes; Commissioner Nancarrow — yes; Vice Chairman Bridal Mason — yes. The motion passed unanimously among those present.

The commission’s approval is for preliminary plat only; final plat recording and building permits will be subject to the listed conditions and the city’s usual subdivision and building permit processes. Staff indicated the required fence must be in place before certificate of occupancy and that the pond and certain accessory structures must be removed or modified as part of the improvement work.

The decision concludes the public portion of item 5 on the agenda. The commission did not adopt any changes to city code as part of this approval.

Votes at a glance • Mountain Grove Estates preliminary plat (approx. 2540 N. Mountain Road): motion to approve preliminary plat subject to engineer’s report, TRC memo and staff report conditions. Moved by Commissioner Cody Nancarrow; seconded by Commissioner Bailey. Vote: Watson — yes; Bailey — yes; Webb — yes; Green — yes; Nancarrow — yes; Vice Chairman Bridal Mason — yes. Outcome: approved (unanimous of members present).