Planning commission tables Taylor Landing rezone after residents and commissioners press for bigger park donation and process fixes

The Western Weber Planning Commission on April 9 voted to table an application to rezone about 45.9 acres associated with Taylor Landing (ZMA‑2024‑03) after lengthy public comment and detailed staff discussion. Commissioners cited procedural concerns about making a zoning change without a corresponding general‑plan map amendment, worries that donated open space is difficult to farm or develop as usable parkland, and requests for a larger or more concrete park donation and stronger street connectivity commitments.

Charlie (staff) presented the proposal and staff's recommendation options. Staff described the Taylor Landing subdivision as a cluster subdivision with five existing phases that preserved open space in exchange for additional density. The applicant sought to convert the Phase 4 and 5 preserved open space into Phase 6 lots and to donate roughly 22 acres to the Taylor West Weaver Park District. Staff said that the general plan maps currently show the existing Phase 4 and 5 lands as permanently preserved open space and that changing their status would ordinarily require a general plan amendment; staff suggested alternatives including rezoning existing platted lots to match their current lot layout while reserving donated park space as open space.

Public commenters were numerous and mostly opposed. Neighbors raised concerns that the donated acreage is poor quality (alkali soils, old manure pits), that water for park irrigation is not provided, and that a conversion would amount to a "bait and switch" for homeowners who expected permanent open space. Several speakers, including residents who live adjacent to the proposed change, urged the commission to require a larger donation or to keep the land as permanently preserved open space. Lance Peterson, treasurer of the Taylor West Weaver Park District, told the commission the park district is eager to accept donated acreage and has grant funding available for a pavilion and parking but acknowledged build‑out could take many years.

Staff and commissioners discussed park valuation and infrastructure. Charlie said assessor values for similar individually held agricultural preservation parcels run around $30,000 per acre, which would put a 22.3‑acre donation at about $660,000 in in‑kind value. Staff also presented a facilities‑cost analysis showing community park infrastructure at roughly $7,500 per new lot (and higher if using Syracuse City standards), which suggested the developer's donation could be below the community cost to build fully improved parks adjacent to the development. Commissioners expressed concern that the open space had been shown as preserved on past maps and that approving a rezoning now without a general plan amendment would appear to undercut that expectation.

After public comment and internal discussion, a commissioner moved to table the item so the applicant can pursue the correct process (including a general plan amendment) and return with revised materials that address park funding/donations, water availability for park development, and street connectivity (including the proposed alignment of 3900 West). The motion to table passed; the commission chair recorded an aye vote and the item was held for a future meeting. Commissioners asked staff to convey clearly that the County Commission should not act until the general plan amendment and additional details are vetted.

The commission asked the applicant and staff to engage with the park district and affected landowners to refine the donation scope and to explore stronger commitments for pathways and road linkages before bringing the rezoning back for recommendation.