Commission recommends preliminary plat approval for Northampton Phase 9, with sidewalk/improvement issues flagged

The North Ogden City Planning Commission on Oct. 25 recommended preliminary plat approval of Northampton Subdivision Phase 9, a two‑lot parcel between 1375 East and Mountain Road that finalizes a remainder parcel along the canal, subject to standard engineering and staff conditions.

Scott Hess, community and economic development director, told commissioners that the two lots have curb, gutter, sidewalk stub‑outs and utility stub outs, and that the plat dedicates a seven‑foot strip of Mountain Road right of way to complete an 80‑foot dedication when combined with the existing right of way. Hess said staff recommended the plat for approval with a note mirroring Phase 8 that requires a six‑foot‑tall black‑coated vinyl chain‑link fence along the easterly boundary adjacent to the canal, to be maintained by the property owner.

Hess said the city engineer had written comments confirming the needed dedication and the chain‑link fence note, but that an engineer’s memo had not yet been placed in the packet; he said staff had discussed the subdivision with public‑works staff and did not have outstanding engineering concerns that would block a preliminary approval. He added that final engineering items and improvements would be resolved at final plat.

Commissioners asked whether the two rear lots would be allowed to access Mountain Road; Hess said North Ogden’s Title 11 double‑frontage rules restrict driveway access from the secondary frontage, so the lots should not get direct access to Mountain Road. Commissioners also discussed whether the seven‑foot dedication required the developer to construct sidewalk and improvements now or whether the developer could seek a waiver from the city council to defer the Mountain Road improvements. Hess said the waiver process is a legislative decision by the city council and is permitted when there is no contiguous sidewalk within 150 feet of the parcel.

Brett Dersh, engineer of record from Gardner Engineering, said he did not expect any problem with the waiver process and that if the commission approved the preliminary plat, the applicant would either install the improvements or pursue a council waiver to defer them.

Commissioner Gardner moved to approve the preliminary plat for Northampton Phase 9 subject to conditions in the staff and forthcoming engineering report and the requirement that Mountain Road improvements be provided unless a council waiver is requested; Commissioner Neighbour seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The commission’s recommendation advances the plat to final‑plat review; final acceptance will require resolution of engineering comments, confirmation of the canal fence note or accepted alternative fencing, and either construction of Mountain Road improvements or formal council approval of a waiver to defer them.