Council, staff and Tri City Exchange operator discuss safety, site-plan gaps and path to compliance

City planning staff and the operator of Tri City Exchange in North Ogden reviewed a multi‑year pattern of missing permits, site‑plan deficiencies and traffic and safety problems at the food distribution site on Washington Boulevard, and agreed to work together on a compliance plan rather than pursue immediate shutdown.

Planning Director Scott Hess summarized the staff review, saying the site "is not currently compliant" with the city's commercial site‑plan standards and listed problems including no hard‑surface parking, lack of stormwater retention, temporary refrigerated tractor‑trailers used as freezers and uncertain ADA restroom availability. Hess said the planning department had returned red‑line comments to an initial 2021 site‑plan application but that the applicant had not supplied the follow‑up materials needed for administrative approval.

The site operator, who identified himself as Mike Larson of Tri City Exchange, said the pantry has operated at the location for five years and that the organization holds 501(c)(3) documentation and state…