Planning commission approves Taylor Landian church design review, 6-1

The Weber County Planning Commission voted 6-1 on May 13 to approve administrative item 22.1DR2025-03, a design-review application for a new Taylor Landian church building proposed at 2200 South and 3691 West.

Staff and the applicant described site layout, stormwater and landscaping plans during the administrative review. Planning staff recommended approval but said “written approvals of the design review shall not be issued until agency requirements are met, specifically the engineering requirements and the completion of the subdivision process.”

Why it matters: approval allows the applicant to move forward with detailed engineering and subdivision steps needed for building permits; the commission attached conditions intended to ensure stormwater, access and subdivision requirements are finalized before final sign-off.

Commission discussion focused on landscaping and street improvements. Several commissioners questioned the inclusion of small turf areas in front of the building given local water-conservation preferences. Architect Mike Davy, who presented for the applicant, explained the lawn areas were intended for limited, informal use: “the grama the the church in general has got way back on grass on their sides. This 1 does not have a pavilion. … Really, the only reason for that is have some recreation area, you know, for the kids, or a class to go out and sit, you know, during Sunday school or, you know, for the kids, you know, or an activity.”

Commissioners also asked whether the project should be required to fund or build more extensive road improvements on 2200 South and nearby 3500 West to address existing narrow sections. Staff said such off-site improvements are evaluated for proportionality to the development’s impacts and advised commissioners that the typical approach is to give staff authority to work with county engineering to determine the appropriate scope and proportionality.

A motion to approve the design review, citing staff findings and recommendations in the packet, was made by Commissioner Cheryl K. Acton and seconded (second not named in the record). Roll call votes were: Commissioner McCormick, Aye; Commissioner Ambriati, Aye; Commissioner Lebel, Aye; Commissioner Wickard, Aye; Commissioner Collins, Aye; Commissioner Edwards, Nay; Chair (name not recorded), Aye. The chair declared, “Motion carries 6 to 1.”

The approval includes the staff condition that final written design-review approvals will not be issued until county engineering requirements are satisfied and the subdivision process is completed. Staff noted additional agency sign-offs (engineering, fire district) remain outstanding and must be met as conditions of issuance.

What's next: the applicant will complete engineering and the subdivision process; final issuance of written design-review approvals will follow once agencies sign off.