Developer previews 60-acre cohesion plan north of Red Cliffs Temple; council favors trail and buffers

Land Reserve representatives presented a preliminary plan on July 9 for about 60 acres north of the Red Cliffs Temple that straddles jurisdictional boundaries. Taylor Levitt said the developer's goal is a single, cohesive neighborhood whether pieces end up annexed to Saint George City, Washington City or remain in the county.

The plan centers on a linear park and a north-south street to preserve a view corridor from Merrill Road in the north down to the Red Cliffs Temple in the south. Levitt said that because the linear park and a connecting trail fall inside Saint George's limits, the density in the Saint George portion is lower while the Washington County side shows relatively higher density; the developer characterized that as a design choice tied to open-space placement.

Council members praised the variety of lot sizes and housing types designed to accommodate multiple household stages. Council feedback focused on two practical changes: adding a trail on the north side of George Washington Boulevard where the current plan shows only a five-foot sidewalk, and adjusting townhome duplex placement at the northeast corner where units appear close to an existing house. The developer agreed to modify the plans and send updated drawings to the city for further review.

Levitt and the council emphasized the desire for a seamless neighborhood character so residents will not perceive a hard boundary between jurisdictions. The developer said no formal applications had yet been submitted and this presentation was preliminary, allowing staff and council to provide early feedback on connectivity, buffers, and street/trail standards.