Planning Commission recommends rezoning 80 East Center Street to Central Commercial with mixed-use overlay, conditions to protect church and architectural style

The Kaysville Planning Commission on Sept. 11 voted to forward a recommendation to the City Council to rezone 80 East Center Street from A1 (Light Agricultural) to CC (Central Commercial) with a mixed-use (MU) overlay. The commission—s recommendation includes a development agreement that attaches architectural elevations (designs labeled "South Elevation" in the packet) as an exhibit to help ensure the project—s buildings are consistent with the city—s downtown character.

Planning staff presented an updated site plan submitted by the applicant. Staff said the applicant removed three townhome units along the southern border, reducing the total dwellings from 27 to 24 (23 townhomes plus one single-family unit that includes the historic church). The removed units were replaced with larger on-site open space and amenities, including a dog run and other green areas. Staff reported the project now provides more than 33% green space for the townhome parcel and about 45% if the corner lot is included. Staff also said residential parking improved and that the project would be above the RM zone open-space requirements if measured against that standard.

The applicant, identified in the record as Mr. Williams, told the commission the design keeps taller, ground-floor storefront-style units along Center Street and the Zions Bank property edge to encourage active uses, while interior townhomes would be lower-height residential units. "With that number, I could make some money on the townhome portion, like, to sell of that. Without those, then I don't. But I can still pay the parishes what they've been asking," Williams said, describing how residential density helps fund restoration of the church.

Nephi Harvey, who identified himself as a family member of the property owners, urged commissioners to approve the rezoning so a buyer could fund restoration of the historic church (built 1888). "My personal interest ... has been to do whatever is necessary to help them save the church," Harvey said. He estimated restoration could cost about $1 million and said sale of the property contingent on rezone approval would enable funds for preservation.

Commissioners raised several issues during discussion: how the mixed-use overlay would function if retail demand is limited, the number and scale of taller buildings along the perimeter versus lower interior units, parking calculations tied to commercial square footage, and how to ensure the project—s architectural style remains compatible with downtown. Staff said the development agreement can require that future building designs be "substantially conforming" to the attached elevations and that colors and materials would be reviewed to ensure consistency.

A commissioner made a motion to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council for the zone change to CC with an MU overlay and to include a development agreement attaching the South Elevation architectural exhibits. The motion was seconded and the commission voted to forward the recommendation.

The recommendation to the City Council is advisory; final rezoning and the development agreement must be approved by the City Council. Staff indicated the project will return to city review with the development agreement and that the council will review the rezone request and attached architectural exhibits in a subsequent hearing. The commission also noted an intent that the church be preserved as a focal point of the development and that architecture on the perimeter be compatible with the downtown character.