St. George council approves bike-safety project, vacates easements and OKs zoning changes

The St. George City Council on an evening agenda approved a state grant-funded bike-safety project on 700 East, voted to vacate several public utility and drainage easements for new development, and advanced multiple zoning updates including reapproval of the Flats at Grandview and an amendment to the Devario development.

The council’s most contested vote centered on the 700 East cycle track and traffic-calming project, which drew extended discussion about parking loss and pedestrian safety. Councilmembers debated a staff-recommended grant that would pay most construction costs while the city would provide a local match. After public discussion among council members, Councilwoman Danielle Larkin moved to approve the consent items that included the project; her motion passed after Mayor Bridal cast the tie-breaking vote when two council members opposed the measure.

Why it matters: the 700 East project changes parking, adds a separated cycle track and bulb-outs at intersections, and is intended to reduce pedestrian crossings and conflict points near the university. The project is tied to a state grant and a local matching obligation that will affect the city budget.

Most important facts - 700 East project: city staff described the grant as “up to $2.27 million,” with the state share as much as $1.362 million; staff said the project is estimated at about $1.45 million and the city expects to use roughly $580,000 in local funds for the work. (City staff Lloyd provided the cost figures to council.) - Design elements described by staff include concrete bulb-outs at intersections, a buffered cycle track along the east curb, a landscaped median buffer between the cycle track and travel lanes, and irrigation/landscaping in medians. The university has agreed to maintain landscaping in perpetuity, according to council discussion. - Parking impacts: council discussion estimated the East Side parking loss at about 30–50 spaces; staff said cemetery parking and some parking elsewhere would remain. Council members warned the change could push students to park on smaller residential streets. - Vote on the 700 East items (consent items A and B): Motion to approve moved by Danielle Larkin, seconded by Steve Kemp. Jimmy Hughes and Natalie Larson voted no; several councilmembers voted aye; Mayor Bridal broke the tie with a yes vote. Outcome: approved.

Other formal actions (votes at a glance) - Ordinance 2025-012: Vacate a public utility and drainage easement described in document 20170025075 (Bloomington area). Motion by Steve Kemp; second Danielle Larkin. Vote recorded: Steve Kemp — aye; Danielle Larkin — aye; Jimmy Hughes — aye; Natalie Larson — aye. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Ordinance 2025-013: Vacate portion of public cross-access, municipal utility and drainage easements (Fields at Mall Drive Phase 2 partial amendment A). Motion by Jimmy Hughes; second Danielle Larkin. Engineer Jake Tate and applicant representatives said sewer and access for the rear lot were redesigned to allow gravity sewer to serve Lot 7. Vote recorded: Natalie Larson — aye; Jimmy Hughes — aye; Danielle Larkin — aye; Steve Kemp — aye. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Ordinance 2025-014: Vacate municipal utility easement between Lots 58 and 59, Cottom Cove Phase 5 (lot consolidation). Motion by Danielle Larkin; second Jimmy Hughes. Vote recorded: Steve Kemp — aye; Danielle Larkin — aye; Jimmy Hughes — aye; Natalie Larson — aye. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Ordinance 2025-015: Amend and approve PDC zoning for ~0.43 acres east of River Road and south of 900 South (951 S. River Road; proposed 5,000 sq. ft. professional office). Planning staff said the Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions that preserve the city’s ability to require shared access or convert the driveway to right-in/right-out if future conflicts arise. Motion by Danielle Larkin; second Jimmy Hughes. Vote recorded: Steve Kemp — aye; Danielle Larkin — aye; Jimmy Hughes — aye; Natalie Larson — aye. Outcome: approved unanimously. - Ordinance 2025-016: Reapprove the Flats at Grandview PDR zoning on ~8.93 acres (amendments to the previously approved Flats at Grandview). The applicant is seeking reapproval of an earlier 60-unit plan with modest pad and elevation adjustments; commissioners and councilmembers debated the project’s evolution away from originally proposed smaller “tiny-home” footprints toward larger, mostly two-story detached townhome units. Motion by Danielle Larkin; second Steve Kemp. Vote recorded: Steve Kemp — aye; Danielle Larkin — aye; Jimmy Hughes — aye; Natalie Larson — nay. Outcome: approved (three in favor, one opposed as recorded). - Ordinance 2025-017: Amend Villas at Devario PD-R on ~24.1 acres (Gap Canyon Parkway / Canyon View Drive area). The application reduces previously approved unit counts (the developer reduced the plan from 206 units to 196 and removed the stacked-unit buildings in favor of townhomes), shows conceptual elevations and phasing, and preserves open space adjacent to the project. Motion by Steve Kemp; second Jimmy Hughes. Vote recorded: Natalie Larson — aye; Jimmy Hughes — aye; Danielle Larkin — aye; Steve Kemp — aye. Outcome: approved unanimously.

Discussion highlights and staff clarifications - Safety vs. parking: Councilwoman Danielle Larkin framed the 700 East change as a safety-first decision, saying, “the safety always wins.” Opponents noted that removing parking could shift vehicle parking into nearby residential streets. Staff and other councilmembers emphasized prior demonstrations of a similar cycle track and maintenance agreements with the university. - Grant and local match: City staff Lloyd provided the grant figures and clarified that although the available state grant total is larger, the city expects local matching exposure of roughly $580,000 based on the current project estimate of about $1.45 million. - Easement vacations: For each easement vacation, applicants and engineers explained changes in storm-water routing and plats. Jared Bates and Jake Tate addressed how sewer and drainage changed when nearby development and platting occurred and said the new designs will provide utility and access to back lots when the developers return with revised plats. - Grandview product-size debate: Councilmembers and the applicant’s representative, Adam Allen of American Land Consulting, discussed market demand. Allen said buyers are favoring slightly larger, two-story units over the smaller 600–900 sq. ft. footprints originally envisioned, making the approved product closer to a detached townhome. Councilmembers asked staff to put a review of minimum home size and tiny-home regulations on a future agenda.

Context and next steps - Several agenda items were routine land-use housekeeping (easement vacations tied to subdivision and plat changes) and moved through after public hearings with applicants and professional engineers addressing technical questions. - The council adjourned into a closed session after the regular agenda concluded.

Ending: The council’s approvals move several development projects forward and commit the city to a local match for the 700 East safety project; developers and applicants must return with final plats or site plans where noted before construction can proceed.