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Council, staff and Tri City Exchange operator discuss safety, site-plan gaps and path to compliance
Summary
City planning staff and the operator of Tri City Exchange in North Ogden reviewed years of missing permits, parking and safety shortcomings at the site on Washington Boulevard and agreed to work jointly on a compliance and safety plan rather than order immediate closure.
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 and county food‑handling permits. Larson described steps already taken at the site — cones to control queuing, quieter refrigerated units, added restroom provision and coordination with nearby property owners — and said he is pursuing a larger relocation and commercial upgrade in parallel. "I bought the property for $1,000,000… I paid it down to $362,000 owed," Larson said, describing investments he has made in equipment and refrigeration to sustain the operation.
Council members and staff focused on two recurring problems: on‑site safety when large crowds gather on Friday distribution days, and vehicles parking on the state highway. Councilmember Pulver and others asked whether UDOT access and county health rules had been applied; Hess said traffic access and curb cut approvals are UDOT matters and food‑handling and public‑health oversight fall to county and state health authorities. Hess also noted that nonprofit operators must submit 501(c)(3) paperwork and that city staff had not yet received complete nonprofit documentation for the current site plan file.
To keep the pantry operating while addressing safety and code gaps, staff offered a collaborative path forward. Scott Hess said the city could waive or reduce application fees for a renewed site plan to encourage a complete submission: "If they're willing to make the next steps forward... it would be something positive to explore is to waive the fees for them to do their next application." Larson welcomed staff help and said he was already negotiating to move to a larger, permanent facility that could include commercial refrigeration and a farmers'‑market partner.
Police leadership and the operator discussed operational changes to reduce roadside risk. Larson described recent operational fixes — adding cones and moving the queue, instructing lot monitors not to step into traffic, and arranging off‑site parking with neighboring businesses — and the police chief said staff would work with the operator on a focused safety plan.
The council did not take enforcement action at the meeting. Instead, members directed staff to work with the operator to produce a timeline and concrete safety steps and to return to the council with options, including an expedited site‑plan submittal and possible fee adjustments. Mayor and council members repeatedly framed the goal as keeping a high‑demand humanitarian service operating while bringing it into compliance.
Why it matters: Tri City Exchange serves hundreds of households on distribution days and the council must balance continuity of an essential service against public‑safety, land‑use and health requirements. The discussion clarified which issues are local (site plan, off‑street parking, city code enforcement) and which require other agencies (UDOT access, county/state health for food handling).
Next steps: Planning staff and the operator will prepare a compliance plan and timeline; police staff will draft a safety plan for Friday distribution operations; planning staff will identify the specific site‑plan material needed for administrative approval and advise whether the city will waive application fees. Those items will return to council staff for follow‑up.
