St. George City Council approves four zoning and site-plan measures, designates Miles Romney home as local landmark

The St. George City Council approved a request to designate the Miles Romney home as a local landmark and adopted four ordinances on land-use and site plans during its regular meeting.

The landmark designation clears a path for the property owner to seek a conditional-use permit to convert the historic home to a law office; council members unanimously approved the change. Council members also voted to amend zoning and approve site plans for an In-N-Out restaurant, a Valvoline oil-change site, a residential zone change to permit a lot combination for a private pool, and a hobby-garage (individual ownership) development along 850 North.

Why it matters: The votes affect development patterns in several parts of St. George, including a parcel adjacent to Pioneer Road and Southern Parkway, a corner at Dinosaur Crossing Drive and Mall Drive, a small residential cul-de-sac, and a larger commercial parcel near Costco. Several approvals will allow building permits or subsequent land-use steps to move forward.

The Miles Romney home Brenda, a city planning presenter, told the council that the Miles Romney home at 255 South 100 West was built between 1862 and 1865 and falls within the Saint George Arts District and a proposed historic district the city is pursuing for the National Register of Historic Places this fall. Staff said the Historic Preservation Commission recommended designation and that the Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation 5–0, citing city code (section 10-13E-4) criteria including association with an important local figure, Miles Romney, who supervised construction of the St. George Temple and Tabernacle and designed the Brigham Young Winter Home and Office with his son, Miles Park Romney.

Councilmember Danielle Larkin made the motion to designate the home as a local landmark; Councilmember Michelle Tanner seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Staff noted the designation allows the owner to apply next for a conditional-use permit to convert the building for office use.

In-N-Out site (Ordinance 2025-023) The council approved Ordinance 2025-023 to amend the PDC zone for roughly 2.01 acres southeast of Pioneer Road to allow an In-N-Out restaurant and related site plan. Planning staff described the site as the parcel adjacent to the Del Taco location and showed a site plan with a double- and single-stacking drive-through configuration that provides about 31 queuing spaces directly at the window and, with extended double-queuing, roughly 60 cars of capacity back to a private lane. Staff said the proposal exceeds required parking (54 required; the project provides about 77 spaces) and includes cross access with Del Taco.

Councilmember Natalie Larson moved to approve Ordinance 2025-023; Councilmember Steve Kemp seconded. The council recorded aye votes from Steve Kemp, Michelle Tanner, Danielle Larkin and Natalie Larson; the motion passed.

Valvoline (Ordinance 2025-024) The council approved Ordinance 2025-024 and the associated design and site plan for a Valvoline oil-change service on about 0.66 acres at the northeast corner of Dinosaur Crossing Drive and Mall Drive. Planning staff noted the site is in a commercial land-use area and described three service bays, landscaping, and building heights of roughly 24 to 31 feet. During council questions, members raised floodplain and groundwater concerns because of the site's proximity to the river. Staff explained that oil-change facilities store used oil in sealed underground tanks and that those tanks are periodically emptied by service trucks and taken to recycling facilities; staff said the design includes measures to prevent leakage into nearby waterways and that planning commission discussed mitigation at its hearing.

Councilmember Michelle Tanner moved to approve Ordinance 2025-024; Danielle Larkin seconded. The council recorded aye votes from Natalie Larson, Danielle Larkin, Michelle Tanner and Steve Kemp; the motion carried unanimously.

Residential zone change for pool (Ordinance 2025-025) Council approved Ordinance 2025-025 to change zoning from R-1-10 to R-1-6 on approximately 1.06 acres at the northern end of 950 West Circle. Planning staff explained the zone change would allow a property owner to combine lots (Lot 58 and an adjacent parcel) to create a larger lot where the owner intends to install a permanent in-ground pool. Staff described the change as limited to facilitate the lot-line adjustment; no additional site plan was before council.

Councilmember Danielle Larkin moved to approve the ordinance; Councilmember Natalie Larson seconded. The council recorded aye votes from Steve Kemp, Michelle Tanner, Danielle Larkin and Natalie Larson; the motion passed unanimously.

Hobby garages (Ordinance 2025-026) The council approved Ordinance 2025-026 to change zoning from C-3 to PDC for approximately 5.73 acres on the north side of 850 North, west of 2957 East, to allow a Hobby Garages development consisting of 76 individually owned garage units and a common clubhouse. Planner Brian (introduced as a city planner) described required setbacks, maximum elevations under the Hobby Garages standards, and landscaping allowances where strips are under eight feet wide. Planning Commission recommended approval 4–0 and had suggested a vertical variation treatment for building facades; council members discussed aesthetics and enforcement of prohibitions on overnight stays (the code requires an owners' association/HOA to manage the site and forbids overnight occupancy of garages), and staff said code enforcement will follow up on complaints.

Rick Meyer, representing the applicant, said the property is being sold to the developer (he described it as under contract). Councilmember Michelle Tanner moved to approve Ordinance 2025-026 with no added conditions; Councilmember Steve Kemp seconded. The council recorded aye votes from Natalie Larson, Danielle Larkin, Michelle Tanner and Steve Kemp; the motion carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Miles Romney home — Designation as local landmark; motion by Danielle Larkin; second Michelle Tanner; outcome: approved (unanimous). Referenced code: section 10-13E-4 (historic preservation). - Ordinance 2025-023 — Amend PDC and approve In-N-Out site plan (approx. 2.01 acres); motion by Natalie Larson; second Steve Kemp; outcome: approved (4–0 recorded ayes). - Ordinance 2025-024 — Amend Dinosaur Crossing PDC and approve Valvoline site plan (approx. 0.66 acres); motion by Michelle Tanner; second Danielle Larkin; outcome: approved (4–0 recorded ayes). - Ordinance 2025-025 — Change zone R-1-10 to R-1-6 (approx. 1.06 acres) to permit lot combination for pool; motion by Danielle Larkin; second Natalie Larson; outcome: approved (4–0 recorded ayes). - Ordinance 2025-026 — Change zone C-3 to PDC for Hobby Garages (approx. 5.73 acres); motion by Michelle Tanner; second Steve Kemp; outcome: approved (4–0 recorded ayes).

What council did not decide here: Several approvals allow further permits or plat changes but do not themselves approve building permits or final plats; staff noted next steps (conditional-use permit for the landmark conversion, site-plan review or plat changes for other items).