Roy City planning commission forwards 25.07‑acre annexation map change amid water, airport concerns

Roy City Planning Commission voted unanimously June 10 to forward a recommendation to the City Council to amend the city’s annexation policy plan to include about 25.07 acres north of the railroad tracks, east of 1900 West and north of Hinkley Drive near 3300 South.

The change would add the parcel — identified in the meeting materials at approximately 1811 West, 3300 South — to the list of areas Roy City could annex in the future. The action amends Roy’s policy plan only; a separate annexation application from the property owner would be required before any transfer of jurisdiction or change of land use.

Ogden City Planning Director Barton Bridal told the commission that, based on Ogden’s review, the proposal faces practical obstacles that may preclude development under Roy or require Ogden involvement. Bridal said the Buena Vista Water District removed the area from its water service area in 2019; the parcel is now in the Ogden water service district, which, he said, would be the likely provider after annexation. He also raised access concerns to the state highway and said state law requires the other municipality’s written consent for annexations within 5,000 feet of a municipal airport runway — a point he said applied because of proximity to Ogden Hinkley Airport.

"Utah code 1028047," Bridal said, reading aloud the provision he cited, "requires that you get consent from Ogden City to annex this property." He recommended the commission not include the parcel if the goal is to allow development to proceed under Roy without Ogden’s agreement.

Developers and nearby property owners urged the commission to keep the parcel on Roy’s annexation map. Preston Mobius, who said he is under contract with the landowner, described the action as a first procedural step to enable later annexation work and said the project team has been working on entitlement questions for about a year. Neighbor Kent Butters, who owns property just across the railroad, said he would prefer annexation to Roy if Roy’s process is less onerous than Ogden’s. Resident Kevin Homer also spoke in favor of amending the map while asking that commissioners “put this on standby” until outstanding technical questions were addressed.

Roy staff emphasized that the amendment only revises the policy plan required for Roy to consider future annexation; it does not transfer land or set zoning. Staff recommended forwarding the amendment to City Council, which will hold its own public hearing — likely in July, according to staff.

The planning commission approved the recommendation by roll call; the motion passed unanimously. The record shows the commission is forwarding the item so the council can consider the amendment and conduct statutorily required hearings and notices.

If the property owner later files a formal annexation application, the commission and council would address service availability, required consents, access permits and any zoning proposed with that application.