Planning commission approves map amendment and rezoning recommendation for Winston Park subdivision with park conditions and fence requirement

The Weber County Planning Commission voted to recommend a general plan amendment (GPA2024-02) and to forward a positive recommendation on a rezoning request (ZMA2024-02) for property within the Winston Park subdivision, subject to conditions addressing park transfer and design, sidewalks, townhome orientation and fencing.

Staff presentation: Planning staff summarized alternatives for the future land-use map and recommended Alternative 2 (use the medium-to-large residential designation for the entire property and enable lot averaging at rezone/subdivision to permit a small number of townhomes). Staff noted the property includes developed Phase 1 lots and vacant acreage designated in the plan as open space; staff explained that changing the designation would require vacating the open-space easement and reapplying standard subdivision/lot rules. Staff also flagged wetland delineation was previously addressed for Phase 1 and likely is not a barrier, but any wetlands would require mitigation at subdivision.

Park donation and pathways: The developer and the parks district (representative Lance Peterson) discussed a proposal to donate a roughly 4–5-acre pocket park and detention area to the parks district. The parks district said it would accept a small neighborhood park and work with the developer on details. Commissioners and staff discussed pathway configurations, whether to replace existing 4-foot sidewalk with 5-foot sidewalk, and whether to accept a cash contribution in lieu of tearing out and replacing existing sidewalk. Developer representative Wade Ramsey said replacing the entire sidewalk would be substantial; he welcomed further discussion and indicated willingness to explore partial contributions. The parks district said it could accept the park parcel and would work with the developer and staff on required improvements.

Townhomes and design: Staff recommended design considerations for any townhomes: orient townhomes inward so their backs face 1800 South, and require the building rear elevations that face the collector to be treated to look like single-family homes (to reduce the townhome appearance along the collector). Commissioners added a condition that the development agreement include a minimum 6-foot fence along the 1800 South corridor (fence materials and final design to be negotiated by staff in the development agreement).

Commission actions: The commission voted to advance the general-plan amendment (Alternative 2) to the County Commission and subsequently voted to recommend rezoning 40 acres from A1 to R115, subject to staff recommendations and two additional conditions: 1) that townhomes be oriented inward and the collector-facing elevations be designed to appear as single-family homes, and 2) that a minimum 6-foot fence be required along the 1800 South corridor with detailed design to be finalized by staff in the development agreement. The motion included findings consistent with staff reports. Both recommendations proceed to the County Commission for legislative action.

Ending: Staff will draft a development agreement reflecting the park donation, sidewalk/tennis-pathway approach (or cash-in-lieu per negotiations), townhome design standards and fence requirement for the County Commission packet. Subdivision-level engineering, stormwater, and any wetlands mitigation remain subject to later review and permitting.