Clayton council reconsiders preliminary zoning for SDG Warner Village Lehi after heated debate on transparency

The Clayton City Council voted on a motion to reconsider its earlier action on Ordinance 00125-02 and then voted to approve the ordinance on first reading, sending the measure to a second reading Feb. 20.

The ordinance would adopt, reject or modify the Planning Commission’s recommendation on the application by SDG Warner Village Lehi to change zoning for a parcel near the intersection of Sweet Potato Ridge Road and Main Street (parcel ID M600301000001). Council members who voted to approve the ordinance on the first reading were Merkel, Kelly, Bachman and Stevens; members voting no were Farmer, Henning and Gorman.

The vote came after more than two hours of discussion focused on process and transparency rather than specifics of the development. Council members, the city manager and the city attorney debated whether staff or legal counsel should have informed council and the public earlier that the developer had requested a motion to reconsider and whether an attorney‑client privileged email from the law director could be discussed publicly. Multiple council members told the record they felt residents were not adequately notified about the…