Fairfield council adopts updated general plan after public hearing

The Fairfield Town Council voted July 16 to adopt amendments to the town’s general plan, passing Resolution 2025-11 after a public hearing and brief public comment. The council approved the resolution by voice vote.

The updated general plan, which the council and staff said had been in draft form since last fall and available online for public review for more than a month, is a policy guide meant to show desired future land uses and to help the town pursue grants and other funding. The council’s action was taken by resolution, not ordinance, which town staff said keeps the document advisory rather than a binding zoning map.

At the hearing a property owner objected to specific designations shown on the draft map for his parcel along Highway 73, saying the map recommended a fishing pond and hydroponic greenhouses for parts of his land and that those recommendations could limit future commercial development. The commenter said that the parcel historically has been used for commercial and light industrial purposes and argued the plan’s suggested uses “would effectively take this land out of productive use without compensation.” The commenter cited Utah Code in expressing concern that overly prescriptive designations could trigger a regulatory takings claim.

Town staff and Todd (town planning staff) responded that the general plan does not change current zoning and that a rezone would require a separate, formal process. Todd explained the map is a guidance tool that indicates preferred future uses and noted the front part of the commenter’s property along the highway remains shown as commercial on the adopted plan. Council members and staff also said designations in the general plan can help the town pursue grants for specific types of development, which was one reason some business types were encouraged on the map.

After discussion the council made a motion to adopt Resolution 2025-11 and approved it by voice vote (recorded as “yes” votes during the meeting). The town clerk will publish the adopted plan and staff said council direction is to keep the plan advisory and flexible when property owners seek future changes.

The council and staff emphasized that adoption of the plan does not itself rezone property; a landowner seeking a rezoning or different entitlements must file the appropriate applications and the council would consider such requests in the future.

The council moved on to other agenda items after the vote.