Council gives preliminary OK to Todd family annexation request, asks for building‑envelope protections and conservation alignment

The Midway City Council gave an informal green light for the Todd family to proceed with an annexation petition contingent on conditions the council would expect if the property joins the city.

Staff presented a pre‑application review of several small parcels on Highway 113 owned by the Todd family. The parcels were created decades ago and are not legal lots of record under current Wasatch County zoning; county staff told owners that without combining the parcels back into a mother parcel a tear‑down and rebuild would not be permitted under county rules. The Todds sought to learn whether Midway would consider annexation and, if so, what requirements the city would impose.

Staff and councilors discussed possible city expectations: require a single buildable lot (one dwelling) with a defined building envelope pushed to the north of the combined parcel (to preserve a view corridor toward the adjacent Whites property, which is reportedly being considered for a conservation easement); limit vegetation in the view corridor; require a timeline for demolition of the existing deteriorated house; and require dedication of necessary easements. Staff also told the council to expect utility lateral relocation costs for ties to city water and sewer and estimated a rough $20,000 cost for moving laterals in the UDOT right‑of‑way.

Applicant Michelle Todd said she wants to remain on a lot that has city water and power and would prefer to expand the house northward rather than pay to relocate utility laterals. She also said she would accept leaving the southern parcels undeveloped as open view area. Councilors said the city could require a building envelope and tree/vegetation restrictions and suggested including a demolition timeline as part of annexation terms.

The council’s statement was nonbinding: staff described this as a pre‑annexation conversation and said the next step — if the applicant chooses to proceed — is for the owner to file a formal annexation petition and for staff and city attorney to prepare annexation terms. Councilors said they would be willing to consider the annexation application if it included the protections discussed.