The Weber County Commission approved Ordinance 2025‑28 on Dec. 9, authorizing a development agreement that preserves roughly 24 acres around Ogden City’s wellheads and enables the city to transfer the parcel’s development rights to unincorporated DRR‑1 areas, including the two ski resorts, Powder Mountain and Snowbasin.

Charlie Ewart, planning staff, told commissioners the property at the end of Stringtown Road is within wellhead protection zones and could otherwise yield high density (about 21 units per acre at maximum density) but that the development agreement would prevent development on that parcel and allow Ogden City to sell or transfer the rights instead. “They picked up the property a few years back,” Ewart said, describing the site and the calculations used to determine transferable development rights (TDRs).

Commissioners debated timing and jurisdiction. Several residents urged a pause so the incoming Ogden Valley City could weigh in — Jim Burton asked the commission to postpone major land‑use decisions while the new municipality is forming — but county counsel and staff advised that Weber County retains land‑use authority until incorporation is formalized. Commissioner Jim Harvey moved to approve the development agreement as presented; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call.

Commission chair Gage Frall said the agreement requires any transferred TDRs to go to unincorporated areas rather than the new city: “Under that development agreement, the TDRs, if they are allowed, would have to be transferred to unincorporated Ogden Valley,” he said, noting that, in practice, the likely receiving parcels are the two resorts.

Planning staff and commissioners emphasized that the decision does not change the county’s review process for water or sewer connections: land‑use approval does not itself authorize water or sewer service. The development agreement instead creates a commercial mechanism for Ogden City to recoup investments in protecting its water source.

The commission recorded the ordinance approval and will incorporate the development agreement terms into county records. Further negotiations between Ogden City and prospective buyers of the TDRs (such as resort operators) will be commercial matters handled separately from county land‑use approvals.

What happens next: the development agreement is effective as recorded; the county retains land‑use authority until the new city’s incorporation is finalized, and any transfer of TDRs must meet the agreement’s terms and county code.