Planning commission recommends rezone at 600 South 4700 West with conditions on pathways and easement

The Western Weber Planning Commission on Aug. 13 recommended that the County Commission approve a rezone of approximately 25.69 acres at about 600 South 4700 West from A-1 agricultural to R‑1‑15 single-family residential, with required pathway contributions and recorded easements.

Staff presented the proposal as an update of an application the commission has seen previously, saying the current concept shows a slightly different street alignment and proposes 74 dwelling units. Planning staff recommended approval while asking that the developer contribute to an existing regional pathway along the canal and meet block-connectivity standards.

"This is an approximately 25 and a half acre piece in the current A‑1 zone," Planning staff member Tammy Edelott said during her presentation, explaining the change from the earlier concept. Staff noted the applicant proposes a $7,500 per-lot contribution to the Taylor West River Parks District and that the rezone triggers review for compliance with the general plan and smart-growth standards such as connectivity and open space.

Commissioners and staff discussed a proposed pathway along the canal that lies outside the developer's parcel. Planning staff said the county cannot require the developer to build on property it does not own, but it can seek a contribution or easement to continue a regional pathway installed on a parcel across 4700 West. Staff also told the commission the developer is negotiating with UDOT over two access points on 4700 West; UDOT spacing standards (approximately 660 feet minimum between accesses) mean the county needs an informal nod from UDOT before forwarding the item to the County Commission.

Developer representative TReck Leverage said the applicant is addressing staff comments and plans to resubmit materials to UDOT and county reviewers. Leverage told the commission they are willing to work on the connectivity plan but raised concerns that some proposed pathways would become "pathways to nowhere" because of parcel shapes and ownership along the northern and eastern boundaries.

Several members of the public spoke during the hearing. Kevin Blanch, who lives at 573 South 4700 West and owns frontage adjacent to the site, said he is a sixth‑generation landowner and urged the commission not to approve development until two infrastructure matters are settled: the status of ongoing litigation with Hooper Irrigation and an explicit sewer infrastructure plan that addresses a required lift station for the area. "There's litigation flying right now against my brother and on the Hooper Irrigation," Blanch said, and he asked to see a sewer package and assurance that a lift station would serve the proposal.

Planning staff responded that an infrastructure study and letters from utility providers exist for the wider area and that the developer would be responsible for sewer improvements. Staff said the developer's property sits away from the central irrigation easement at issue and that the county had received commitments indicating secondary water would be provided by Hooper Irrigation if transfers can be completed.

The commission's recommendation includes requiring the applicant to install all internal pathways shown in the concept plan and to record a 12.5-foot easement across the southern boundary of parcels labeled 60 through 55 and a 12.5‑foot easement on the west side of parcel 60 to preserve a future pathway alignment. The motion also applies adopted 10‑foot paved or concrete pathway standards in the code and keeps other staff recommendations from the staff packet.

A motion to forward the recommendation to the County Commission carried unanimously.

What comes next: County staff said UDOT comments on access spacing must be resolved before the item reaches the County Commission. The commission also urged staff to continue working with the developer and neighboring landowners on easements, sewer design and the canal pathway alignment.