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Bountiful council amends Professional Office zone to permit bookstores; ordinance adopted
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance 2025-14 to add 'bookstore' as a permitted use in the Professional Office (PO) zone after a Planning Commission recommendation. Council discussion covered a proposed location at Fifth South and 100 East, parking-study work, accessory coffee sales, and the change's temporary nature pending the general plan update.
Bountiful City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2025-14, amending the Professional Office (PO) zone use table to include bookstore as a permitted use.
Amber Corbridge, the city planner, told the council the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Oct. 7 and forwarded a positive recommendation. She said the PO zones are limited and typically act as transitional areas between commercial and residential uses. The applicant has proposed a bookstore in a building at the corner of Fifth South and 100 East; the site was previously used for office space. Corbridge said the applicant is preparing a parking study and would need a quick site-plan review if the text amendment is adopted.
Council members asked about accessory uses; Corbridge said staff had interpreted a small coffee service as an accessory use consistent with the principal bookstore use and would not require a separate zoning designation. Council discussion referenced broader zoning work tied to the city’s general plan update; staff said the PO zone is expected to be reclassified in future code updates and the current amendment is a narrow change to permit low-impact retail now.
Councilman Higginson made the motion to adopt Ordinance 2025-14; the motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote. The applicant was invited but did not attend the meeting. Councilmember Bradshaw clarified the ordinance permits any bookstore (independent or chain) and is not limited to independent operators despite supporting documents submitted by the applicant describing independent-bookstore benefits.
