Council reviews proposed zone change for 2850 Washington Boulevard, schedules public consideration for May 20

City planning staff introduced a request to rezone a 0.61‑acre parcel behind 2850 Washington Boulevard from CP3 (general commercial) to R‑3 (multifamily) with a conditional overlay that would limit future development to for‑sale townhomes or condominiums.

Barton Brierley, planning staff, told the council the site sits behind an existing building fronting Washington Boulevard and is reached through a single driveway. “The proposal would allow just multifamily at about 11 total units in the property,” Brierley said, noting the parcel’s constrained access and that the planning commission recommended approval as an “infill” site by a 5‑2 vote.

The planning staff said the parcel is roughly 0.61 acres and currently lies behind a frontage building with driveway access; uses allowed under the existing CP3 zone include retail and offices but the rear lot has limited visibility and access. Brierley said sidewalks, bike lanes and nearby destinations such as the Marshall White Center and a small grocery store provide some neighborhood support for housing, but added the site is “really not a great commercial site because it only has the access through that one driveway.”

Council members pressed staff on access, parking and alternate development options. Council member Myers asked about existing parking for the business in the front building, noting the owner had described seven parking spaces in the shared driveway. Brierley said the original property was a single footprint condominium and that any required parking for the front building would be addressed in the private condominium agreement or as part of future development plans.

Council members also asked whether the parcel could be combined with adjacent lots for a larger development. Brierley said the neighboring lot had recently come on the market and the planning commission considered the possibility that a developer might assemble both parcels for a larger project, but he cautioned the city cannot compel one property owner to buy another.

Several councillors referenced the city’s recent zoning amendments that limit residential uses in commercial zones and said they were cautious about further conditional overlays. Brierley said applicants had been discussing residential redevelopment on the site for roughly three and a half to four years, and that utilities were placed ahead of a planned UDOT improvement window that prompted earlier utility work.

The council asked staff to return with additional information on access and safety standards. Janine (city staff) confirmed the item would be scheduled for consideration at the May 20 council meeting; Brierley told the council he expects a signed development agreement to be in place before that date.

Why this matters: the rezoning would change permitted uses of a block‑front lot on Washington Boulevard and could set a local precedent for similar infill requests along the corridor. Council members flagged concerns about driveway width, fire access, parking for an existing frontage business and whether approval would encourage broader commercial‑to‑residential conversions nearby.

What’s next: the council scheduled formal consideration for May 20 and staff said a development agreement is expected to be signed prior to that meeting. If the council votes to approve the rezoning, subsequent subdivision/site‑plan review would need to demonstrate compliance with access, parking and fire‑safety requirements before building permits could be issued.