Commissioners and developers debate river buffer widths, byway corridor and coordination with state on Westbridge project

Weber County commissioners and Westbridge project representatives discussed the proposed rezone and development agreement Aug. 4, focusing on open-space buffers along the river, the byway corridor and coordination with the Utah Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and other state stakeholders regarding Ogden Bay property.

Developers said planning staff and the planning commission recommended reducing a blanket 300-foot river buffer to a 100-foot minimum in many areas to allow meaningful open spaces and a connected river trail while noting the 100-foot figure would be a minimum and site-specific wetland and flood studies could increase required setbacks. Commissioners emphasized they did not want to set a fixed 300-foot requirement without engineering studies; one commissioner said professional study should determine whether 100, 300 or other widths make sense based on flood, wetland and other engineering data.

Commissioners and developers also discussed the byway corridor (referred to by staff) and the practical question of who would maintain mandatory open-space buffers if they are required. Staff noted the development agreement includes language (section 8.13) requiring the developer to refrain from activity within a specified Ogden Bay buffer for one year to allow the state or other entities time to negotiate acquisition or easements; staff said they expect wetland and flood studies to guide final buffer widths and that language was intended to preserve negotiation space. The Division of Wildlife Resources (WMA) and other stakeholders had submitted comments and will continue coordination.

The item remained on the commission's calendar for a public hearing and formal action the next day; staff asked commissioners to review the development agreement language and the table of required improvements and triggers included in the staff report prior to that hearing.