Ogden redevelopment agency outlines projects, board accepts 2023–24 annual report

The Ogden City Redevelopment Agency presented its fiscal-year 2023–24 annual report and the agency board voted to accept the report on Feb. 11.

The report, presented by Jared Johnson, summarized active project areas, project outcomes, and next steps including an amended interlocal agreement with Weber County on the airport CRA, predevelopment in the Union Station neighborhood and work on proposed Housing Transit Reinvestment Zones (HTRZs). Jared Johnson, staff member (Redevelopment Agency), said the RDA’s work “helps to increase our general revenue fund,” and added that stronger revenue helps hold down the certified tax rate for residents.

The agency’s presentation explained that RDA investments use tax increment financing (TIF) to encourage redevelopment in underutilized or blighted areas and highlighted active and recently closed project areas. Johnson reviewed a set of active areas — the Airport CRA, Adam’s CRA (Forest Service Building and Alpha multifamily), Continental (downtown Wonderblock), Capitol Square (HTRZ planning), East Washington URA, Trackline and Ogden River projects — and said staff are pursuing several follow-up actions including amendments to the HTRZ statute implementation and an amended interlocal agreement with Weber County tied to the airport CRA.

Board members asked about how lower participation by other taxing entities would affect project budgets; Johnson said reduced participation “doesn’t necessarily eliminate them, but it does change how the performer works,” and that staff will be “very strategic” when packaging projects and assigning eligible uses for participating taxing entities.

Staff described additional ongoing work: environmental cleanup at the Swift site, the Lotus Riverwalk phase 3 land exchange and efforts to assemble property for the Rivers Edge park; Trackline parcels where two new buildings were added (one sold, one under contract); and a new online interactive dashboard that staff proposed to publish project-area budgets, approvals and incentive details on the RDA website.

Public comment during the RDA portion included residents urging incentives to activate underused storefronts on major corridors and retailers’ regulatory hurdles. Linda Sanchez told the board the boarded Dee’s property “looks like a good place for homeless” and urged incentives to reuse main-street parcels. Resident Travis Pate recounted neighborhood preservation concerns and urged sensitivity to historic properties during redevelopment. The board did not change any action items in response to individual speakers but received the input.

A motion to accept the annual report was made by Board Member Meyers and seconded by Board Member Ritchie; the motion passed by voice vote.

The agency also discussed administrative housekeeping: dissolving expired project areas and bringing closed areas “off the books,” and further work sessions on mission, values, program guidelines and the proposed interactive dashboard for public transparency. Staff said they will return with amended interlocal paperwork for the airport CRA and with refinement on HTRZ boundaries and program rules.

Notes: the presentation included budget and base-year figures for several project areas (see clarifying details). The board did not adopt any new TIF agreements or development agreements at the Feb. 11 meeting; the item on the agenda was acceptance of the annual report.